More than half of pilots say they flew while tired as trust in reporting systems remains low, survey finds

The European Cockpit Association (ECA) survey reveals that over half of pilots admitted to flying while fatigued, despite trust in reporting systems remaining low. The survey, conducted by aviation consultancy Baines Simmons, polled 7,200 pilots across 32 countries. More than 76% of respondents experienced at least one microsleep during their duty periods in the past four weeks.

Barriers preventing pilots from declaring fatigue include fear of management's reaction (47%) and not wanting to draw attention to themselves (44%). The ECA Board Director, Captain Coen George, stressed that when pilots fear career consequences, fatigue goes unreported, posing risks in the cockpit.

Fatigue can stem from acute sleep loss, lengthy or demanding flight duty periods, or insufficient recovery time between duties. This cumulative fatigue is harder to recognize than short-term sleep deprivation. While 82% of pilots knew how to submit a fatigue report, only 12% trusted the system and 11% reported that such submissions led to safety improvements. Half of the respondents said fatigue risks at their airline were poorly managed or not managed at all.

Fatigue among aircrew has long been a concern, identified as a prominent safety issue in the European Union Aviation Safety Agency's (EASA) 2026 report. EASA linked fatigue to several safety concerns, including flight scheduling, short-notice roster changes, and commanders' discretion in extending flight duty periods. The report emphasized the need for targeted safety initiatives to improve reporting quality, awareness, and foster a workplace culture where pilots can declare fatigue without fear of repercussions.