ABSTRACT
The conflict between operational scheduling demands and human physiological makeup is at the heart of fatigue-related problems in aviation. Since scheduling factors are often cited as the number one contributor to pilot fatigue, the development and implementation of more "human-centered" work routines should be considered paramount for promoting on-the-job alertness. For promoting alertness, caffeine is a valuable pharmacological fatigue countermeasure. Fortunately, crew-scheduling practices in aviation have begun to incorporate the advanced knowledge of fatigue, sleep, and circadian rhythms that has been gained. Years of scientific study indicate that fatigue is not a one-dimensional phenomenon limited to singular variables such as hours on duty, but rather the product of several factors related to physiological sleep needs and internal biological rhythms. Education about the importance of sleep and proper sleep hygiene, the dangers and signs of fatigue, and the physiological mechanisms underlying sleepiness on the flight deck is one of the keys to addressing fatigue in operational aviation contexts.
