Undergraduate-Pilot-Training Duty Schedules and Aircrew Fatigue

During USAF undergraduate pilot training (UPT), instructors and students alternate weekly between an early-reporting (0530) and late-reporting (1030-1230) daily work schedule. A preliminary study was conducted to evaluate the effects of the alternating weekly schedule on pilot fatigue and sleep. Both student and instructor pilots reported a modest fatigue level when they began their early-morning duty days. Its only operational impact would be due to the fact that performance deterioration is more apt to occur in new, unmastered tasks, and UPT is a learning situation for the students. Beginning the early- week duty days a little later (0630-0700) may result in a notable reduction in early-morning pilot fatigue and sleepiness. At minimum, the findings provide empirical data for instructing the pilots on the importance of acquiring adequate sleep. (Author)