Pilot Fatigue

What Can You Do?

During my doctoral research I had numerous people ask me why I did not include fatigue in my study. My response was: 

Fatigue is a Stand Alone Study 

I assured those pilots there would be a fatigue driven study, and here it is. My friend and Cohort, Heidi Kim, from Embry Riddle is doing just that! 

Heidi Kim 

Heidi is a Doctoral Candidate at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in the Ph.D. in Aviation Program. Her passion for human factors drove her to the Ph.D. program, and her dissertation took her in the direction of airline pilot fatigue. Prior to studying at Embry-Riddle, Heidi earned her undergraduate degree at the University of North Dakota.  "Go Fighting Sioux!" 

She is currently a Texan with a Wisconsinite heart, living in the DFW area. Heidi is not only a flight instructor (CFI/CFII/MEI), she is also a regulatory affairs investigator in Tech Ops for a major airline. Her husband is also a pilot, but for a different major airline than hers.  

Heidi and her husband, Alex, enjoy flying general aviation aircraft, traveling, and spending time with their fluffy Golden Retriever. Of course he is named Rudder. I had a Saint Bernard named Chief Pilot, because he laid around all day drooling and would do anything if you gave him a bone. 

When I asked Heidi why a fatigue study, she responded: 

 

Fatigue is a common occurrence in daily life. While it typically presents as a minor occurrence, to a pilot fatigue can be a deadly combination. 

Heidi needs your help! 

Heidi is working to finish her Ph.D. in Aviation through Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and she needs your help. Her research seeks to determine a prediction model for airline pilot perceived fatigue. While pilot fatigue is a worldwide problem for freight carriers and passengers alike, the scope of her research is limited to U.S. based passenger airlines.

Pilots will remain anonymous - no names will be collected. You may quit at any time. There will be no risk involved in your participation, and your reward will be the positive impact that this research can have on the aviation community. Heidi said the approximate time to complete the study was 20 minutes, but it only took me 10 minutes. 

If you are a US based pilot flying for a passenger carrier, please take a few minutes to take her study by clicking on the following link: 

Airline Pilot Perceived Fatigue Survey

Thank you for your help!!

Enjoy the Journey!

XO Karlene