Title: Flight crew stress and fatigue in low-cost commercial air operations - an appraisal

Authors: Simon A. Bennett

Addresses: Scarman Centre, University of Leicester, 154 Upper New Walk, Leicester LE1 7QA, UK

Abstract: It has been suggested that the ||low-cost|| model of air travel generates excessive levels of stress and fatigue amongst flight crew. Pilots were interviewed at a UK-registered low-cost carrier (LCC). Most said they felt stressed and fatigued. Despite its subjectivity, the pilots| testimony suggests that stress and fatigue are issues that merit close attention - not least because events like the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks, 2003 Gulf War and coterminous severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak have exacerbated economic pressures within the industry. Flight crews have insights and ideas that may benefit commercial aviation. It is they, and not legislators or civil servants, who deliver the product. It is suggested that a commitment to risk communication (as defined by Irwin and Wynne), which emphasises continuous dialogic risk assessment and the systematic and routinised exploitation of ||user knowledge|| may enhance flight safety.

Keywords: commercial aviation; low-cost carriers; competition; working hours; pilot stress; pilot fatigue; safety.

DOI: 10.1504/IJRAM.2003.003528

International Journal of Risk Assessment and Management, 2003 Vol.4 No.2/3, pp.207 - 231

Published online: 12 Sep 2003 *

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