ABSTRACT
Aircrew fatigue during long-haul flights is recognised as one of the major Human Factors that can impair performance and situational awareness (BourgeoisBougrine, Gounelle, Cabon, Mollard, & Coblentz, 2000). Using physiological recordings on 156 commercial airline flights, previous work has shown that reductions in alertness are frequent during flights, including the descent phase. Most decreases in alertness occur during the monotonous part of the cruise and were often observed simultaneously on both pilots in two person crews (Cabon, Mollard, & Coblentz, 1995; Cabon, Mollard, Coblentz, Fouillot, & Speyer, 1995). Based on these results specific operational recommendations have been designed. Further studies have shown the positive effects of these recommendations (Cabon et aI., 1995; Cabon, Mollard, Coblentz, Fouillot et aI., 1995). Practical recommendations were gathered into a booklet for the use of long-haul aircrews. Currently, this booklet is available in French, English, and Chinese (Speyer, Cabon, Mollard, Bougrine, & Coblentz, 1995; Mollard, Coblentz, Cabon, & Bougrine, 1995). One of the main recommendations promoted in these guidelines is based on the alternation of crew rest and activities, including cockpit napping also called controlled rest on the flight deck. The efficiency of cockpit napping was
first emphasised by Graeber, Rosekind, Connell, & Dinges (1990). However, one of the main drawbacks of cockpit napping is that it could contribute to increase the monotony inside the cockpit (lower light intensity, reduced communications ... ) and thus could decrease the alertness and awareness of the Pilot remaining at the controls. Therefore fail-safe monitoring of the non-napping pilot should avoid simultaneous sleepiness of the two pilots. The Electronic Pilot Activity and Alertness Monitor (EP AM) is in fact intended to provide this type of support warning both crew members by means of activity and alertness measures. Moreover, the EPAM also provides useful feedback on wakefulness monitoring when cockpit napping is not allowed.
