How Pilot Fatigue Affects Operational Flight Risk in Scheduled Commercial Aviation

Abstract: Pilot fatigue remains a hazard in scheduled commercial aviation, contributing to 31 aircraft accidents between 2005 and 2022, according to International Air Transport Association (IATA) (2023) . Therefore, this study further investigated fatigue and its impact on operational flight risk in commercial aviation. More than 16,000 safety reports were analyzed using mixed methods. The results showed that fatigue-related occurrences were more likely to be reported confidentially. Factors contributing to an increased risk of fatigue included pilots’ personal factors, inadequate rest periods, or poor hotel environments. Fatigue was observed in 6% of all safety-related occurrences analyzed, but these events consumed 9% of the airlines’ risk budget. Further empirical research is required focusing on the influence of pilots’ personal factors on fatigue risk.