The Impact of Fatigue on Aviation Safety: A Significant Contributor to Human Error
Fatigue is a critical factor contributing to human error in aviation safety. It is a state of physical or mental weariness resulting from prolonged exertion, insufficient rest, or disruption of natural sleep cycles. Fatigue can impair cognitive functions, decision-making, and reaction times, which are essential for maintaining aviation safety. Why Fatigue Poses a Significant Threat Fatigue is pervasive across aviation roles, affecting pilots, air traffic controllers, and maintenance personnel. The demanding schedules, long duty hours, and frequent crossing of time zones inherent to aviation often disrupt circadian rhythms, leading to chronic fatigue. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), fatigue can decrease situational awareness and impair judgment, increasing the likelihood of errors during critical phases of flight such as takeoff, landing, and emergency response (FAA, 2020). One high-profile example of fat...