Sekundenschlaf weit verbreitet: Piloten: Riskanter Umgang mit Schlafmangel

Frankfurt, Germany - The European aviation industry faces a significant safety risk due to excessively fatigued pilots, according to the Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) union. A recent survey found that 76.8% of flight attendants experienced at least one microsleep incident during a flight within the past four weeks. Furthermore, 36.8% stated they did not receive enough rest to prevent increasing fatigue levels.

The study, conducted by the Baines Simmons consultancy for the European Cockpit Association (ECA), involved a substantial sample size of 7,200 pilots, which the VC emphasized as having considerable weight in highlighting the issue.

VC President Anja Granvogl stressed the importance of addressing the problem of pilot fatigue, as the research revealed a pressing need for action. The study also identified weaknesses in reporting fatigue-related performance issues, with only 37.2% of participants admitting to reporting impairment caused by fatigue. Nearly a quarter (24.2%) of the pilots continued to fly despite fatigue, despite the knowledge of their impaired state. This behavior was often attributed to fear of punishment or retaliation from management.

The VC called for consequences in response to these findings, emphasizing that flight safety should not be reliant on the economic pressures of airlines or the individual determination of pilots. Granvogl stated, "Flight safety must not depend on the economic pressures of an airline company or the personal determination of pilots." Airlines must assume their responsibility and ensure that supervisory authorities closely monitor existing regulations while closing existing loopholes to improve overall safety standards.