Factors influencing cargo pilots’ fatigue

Abstract

In recent years, cargo pilots’ training and reserves in China have been unable to meet the needs of the development of cargo aviation, due to the rapid development of the country’s cargo aviation and the continuing increase in air traffic. Frequent night and cross-time-zone flights in particular worsen the severity of pilots’ fatigue situation. At present, cargo pilots’ fatigue is a key problem that affects the development of China’s cargo aviation. In this study, a survey was carried out with Cargo Pilot’s Fatigue Survey Scale, and the factors influencing cargo pilots’ fatigue were analyzed and compared with the fatigue of the airline pilots. The results indicated that: compared with the airline pilots, cargo pilots have a higher degree of fatigue and are more likely to be conscientious and open; we also determined that number of night flights, workload, and health history are highly correlated with pilots’ degree with fatigue. Nevertheless, no significant difference in workload, age, or sleep quality was noted between cargo pilots’ and airline pilots’ fatigue.