European Pilots Report Widespread Fatigue Risks

(MENAFN- Bangladesh Monitor) Dhaka: Nearly one-quarter of European airline pilots say they routinely fly while too fatigued to work, while three-quarters have experienced involuntary microsleeps in the cockpit, according to a survey by the European Cockpit Association (ECA).

The findings are based on responses from almost 7,200 captains and first officers surveyed in August. They highlight concerns about inadequate rest, pressure to work longer hours and fears of repercussions for reporting fatigue.

The survey found that 24 percent of pilots usually continue flying rather than declare themselves unfit for duty because of fatigue. Another 16.8 percent said they call in sick instead. Half of respondents had operated a flight in the three months before the survey despite believing they were too tired to fly.

Fatigue can impair judgment, slow reaction times and reduce alertness, posing potential risks when pilots must respond to unexpected situations. European aviation rules require airlines to establish systems to identify and manage crew fatigue.

However, confidence in those systems remains low. Only 11.9 percent of pilots said they trusted their airline's fatigue reporting process, while almost half feared negative consequences from management if they reported being unfit to fly.

Pilots employed by airlines based in Ireland and Malta reported particularly high levels of microsleeps and concerns about management reprisals. More than one-third of respondents said they lacked sufficient rest to prevent fatigue from accumulating.

The proportion of pilots who said they typically fly while fatigued was also elevated in Spain, Ireland and France. Around 40 percent of Spain-based airline pilots reported doing so, compared with about one-third in Ireland and France and just 10 percent among pilots working for UK-based airlines.

Fatigue management also drew criticism from pilots at low-cost and wet-lease operators. Only 15.6 percent of low-cost carrier pilots believed their airline managed fatigue risks effectively, compared with 18.6 percent at ACMI operators, which provide aircraft and crew to other airlines.

Nearly two in five respondents had used a captain's discretion to extend duty hours or reduce rest periods at least once in the preceding month. Almost 70 percent expressed concern about refusing such extensions.

Ian Holder, managing director of aviation safety consultancy Baines Simmons, said the findings reflected pilots' experiences rather than directly measuring safety outcomes. However, similar results across three years indicated persistent problems. He cited Finland and the Netherlands as examples of stronger reporting cultures.

ECA President Capt. Tanja Harter called on airlines and regulators to take greater responsibility for fatigue risks. She urged the European Union Aviation Safety Agency to strengthen fatigue management rules, enforce non-punitive reporting and ensure captain's discretion is used appropriately.

Harter said the aviation industry already understood the problems and had potential solutions, arguing that stronger political action was now needed.

Spread the word More from AviationView All Latest NewsSee All Air New Zealand opens Sydney's new airport to int'l flightsAviation10 minutes ago Navi Mumbai Airport adds international routesAirports and Infrastructure15 minutes ago Thailand seeks new int'l routes, AOT holds talks with airlinesAviation21 minutes ago European pilots report widespread fatigue risksAviation22 minutes ago Malaysia Airlines to present upgraded cabin experience at WTMEvents & Forums35 minutes ago Qatar Airways Cargo adds freighter routes in Europe, North AmericaCargo and Logisticsabout 2 hours ago Korean Air completes 'Smart Cargo Terminal' at IncheonCargo and Logisticsabout 2 hours ago Qantas flight to Bangalore makes 10-hour trip to nowhereAirlines and Routesabout 2 hours ago Morocco aerospace exports may hit USD 5 billion in three yearsMRO and Engineeringabout 4 hours ago SalamAir signs Amadeus deal to expand global reachAirlines and Routesabout 4 hours ago British Airways returns to Sri Lanka after 10-year hiatusAirlines and Routesabout 10 hours ago Saint Martin's Island to reopen for tourists from November 1Tourismabout 10 hours ago Biman deploys Boeing 777-300ER on Guangzhou route for Canton FairAirlines and Routesabout 11 hours ago Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister accompanies PM on Japan visitAviationabout 11 hours ago BTRC moves to allow Viasat in-flight internet in Bangladesh airspaceTravel Techabout 22 hours ago Biman extends Riyadh, Dammam flight suspension until November 4Airlines and Routesabout 23 hours ago EBL, Partners to Install Sanitary Napkin Vending Machines at 10 educational institutionsBanking and Financeabout 23 hours ago Bangladesh to promote trade, tourism, cultural diplomacy during state minister's visit to Spain, UKNRB Connectabout 24 hours ago Bangladeshi drugmakers showcase products at global oncology congress in MadridMart/Summitabout 24 hours ago LUBNAN Trade Consortium, NOVOAIR team up for shopping, travel discountsLife & StyleOct 25, 2026 Cathay Pacific named best airline lounge provider in Asia-PacificAwardsOct 25, 2026 Malaysia Airlines recognized for Economy Class comfort in APACAwardsOct 25, 2026 Star Alliance named best airline alliance in Asia-PacificAwardsOct 25, 2026 Rosatom chief briefs Uzbek president on progress of country's first nuclear power plantOthersOct 25, 2026 Cathay Pacific earns five honors at Business Traveller AwardsAwardsOct 25, 2026 Qatar Airways' Al Safwa Lounge named world's bestAwardsOct 25, 2026 Emirates wins top honors across three cabin classesAwardsOct 25, 2026 Qatar Airways wins world's best frequent flyer program awardAwardsOct 25, 2026 Singapore Airlines wins three global awards for service, cabin experienceAwardsOct 25, 2026 Sydney opens USD 3.94b western airport to passengersAirports and InfrastructureOct 25, 2026 Explosions rock Riyadh as Saudi Arabia plans airport reopeningAviationOct 25, 2026 Air India extends Riyadh, Dammam flight suspensions through November 7AviationOct 25, 2026 Prime Bank, LE D'OR sign deal to provide exclusive customer benefitsLife & StyleOct 25, 2026 Qatar Airways to launch Western Sydney flights from late 2027Airlines and RoutesOct 24, 2026 Cat missing at Dubai airport reunites with family after 10-day searchAirports and InfrastructureOct 24, 2026 Biman to double Dhaka-Narita flights from October 29Airlines and RoutesOct 24, 2026 Thai Airways hires overseas HR firm to assess CEO candidatesAirlines and RoutesOct 24, 2026 Hong Kong airport logs double-digit passenger growth in SeptemberAirports and InfrastructureOct 24, 2026 FitsAir eyes Colombo–Chennai return from NovemberAirlines and RoutesOct 24, 2026 AAI promotes India's aviation growth at Routes World 2026Mart/SummitOct 23, 2026 SriLankan Airlines plans Perth, China, Africa expansionAirlines and RoutesOct 23, 2026 New PIA cabin crew uniforms to debut on inaugural Dreamliner flightAirlines and RoutesOct 23, 2026 Biman suspends Dammam flights for three days, Riyadh services until October 31Airlines and RoutesOct 22, 2026 2,933 tourists evacuated from Sajek amid gunfire over road blockadeVisa and Travel UpdatesOct 22, 2026 Bangladesh showcases 14 apparel firms at Barcelona Textile Expo 2026FashionOct 22, 2026 US-Bangla to operate special Dhaka-Jeddah flightsAirlines and RoutesOct 22, 2026 Bangladesh, Sri Lanka explore trade, tourism cooperationNRB ConnectOct 22, 2026 Biman flight departs for Dammam amid fresh attacksAirlines and RoutesOct 22, 2026 New dashboard to showcase RMG factories' progress to international buyersTelecom and TechOct 22, 2026 Three tourists drown, two missing in Cox's Bazar seaTourismOct 22, 2026 Most PopularSee All New PIA cabin crew uniforms to debut on inaugural Dreamliner flightAirlines and RoutesOct 23, 2026 Regent Airways operator HG Aviation ordered into liquidationAirlines and RoutesOct 19, 2026 Crowne Plaza Dhaka Airport names new sales directorHotelsOct 19, 2026 House of Han brings "honest luxury" of Chinese dining to DhakaHotelsOct 19, 2026 Bangladesh showcases 14 apparel firms at Barcelona Textile Expo 2026FashionOct 22, 2026 Sri Lankan student in Bangladesh crowned Global Champion at TeenEagle 2026AwardsOct 20, 2026 Indian air ambulance makes emergency landing in DhakaAviationOct 18, 2026 New associate director of sales joins Crowne Plaza Dhaka AirportHotelsOct 21, 2026 Nagad users to get 10pc discount on NOVOAIR ticketsAviationOct 19, 2026 ATCAB celebrates Air Traffic Controller Day in DhakaAirports and InfrastructureOct 21, 2026 Biman to double Dhaka-Narita flights from October 29Airlines and RoutesOct 24, 2026 US envoy explores Bangladesh's trading heritage at Panam CityCultural JourneysOct 20, 2026 HANSA named top designer hotel at SATA 2026HotelsOct 21, 2026 Prime Bank teams up with Blucheez to offer priority customers discountsLife & StyleOct 19, 2026 Prime Bank, LE D'OR sign deal to provide exclusive customer benefitsLife & StyleOct 25, 2026 US-Bangla to operate special Dhaka-Jeddah flightsAirlines and RoutesOct 22, 2026 AAI promotes India's aviation growth at Routes World 2026Mart/SummitOct 23, 2026 Biman flight departs for Dammam amid fresh attacksAirlines and RoutesOct 22, 2026 New dashboard to showcase RMG factories' progress to international buyersTelecom and TechOct 22, 2026 Bangladesh seeks to expand employment in South KoreaNRB ConnectOct 21, 2026 Cat missing at Dubai airport reunites with family after 10-day searchAirports and InfrastructureOct 24, 2026 SriLankan Airlines plans Perth, China, Africa expansionAirlines and RoutesOct 23, 2026 Lufthansa's final A340-600 flight takes off after 23 yearsFleet and AircraftOct 22, 2026 Oman Air's first Oneworld codeshare to widen reach in three countriesAirlines and RoutesOct 19, 2026 FitsAir eyes Colombo–Chennai return from NovemberAirlines and RoutesOct 24, 2026 Biman suspends Dammam flights for three days, Riyadh services until October 31Airlines and RoutesOct 22, 2026 Lufthansa Cargo shifts freighter operations to Navi MumbaiCargo and LogisticsOct 19, 2026 Biman to operate Riyadh flight on October 25, Dammam services restartAirlines and RoutesOct 21, 2026 134 flights affected by restrictions at Saudi airports; over 20,000 passengers hitAirports and InfrastructureOct 21, 2026 Emirates unveils stylish new fitness and travel collectionsAviationOct 20, 2026 Air India forms "dedicated team" to tackle its costly crisisAirlines and RoutesOct 19, 2026 Airbus forecasts need for 2.4m aviation workers by 2045AviationOct 19, 2026 Renaissance Dhaka offers Puja buffets, two-night staycation dealHotelsOct 19, 2026 Maldives records 3.9pc drop in tourist arrivals in early OctoberTourismOct 19, 2026 Bangladesh, Uzbekistan discuss expanding air connectivity, tourismAviationOct 19, 2026 Holiday Inn Dhaka welcomes autumn with a Bengali food fiestaHotelsOct 19, 2026 2,933 tourists evacuated from Sajek amid gunfire over road blockadeVisa and Travel UpdatesOct 22, 2026 Singapore Airlines wins three global awards for service, cabin experienceAwardsOct 25, 2026 Austrian Airlines flight diverts to Sofia after bomb threatAviationOct 19, 2026 BTRC moves to allow Viasat in-flight internet in Bangladesh airspaceTravel Techabout 22 hours ago Hong Kong airport logs double-digit passenger growth in SeptemberAirports and InfrastructureOct 24, 2026 FAA certifies Boeing 737-10, largest 737 MAX variantFleet and AircraftOct 22, 2026 Expat Ministry provides 200 luggage trolleys at three international airportsNRB ConnectOct 19, 2026 Three tourists drown, two missing in Cox's Bazar seaTourismOct 22, 2026 Rosatom chief briefs Uzbek president on progress of country's first nuclear power plantOthersOct 25, 2026 Qatar Airways to launch Western Sydney flights from late 2027Airlines and RoutesOct 24, 2026 Emirates unveils Thailand Pass, unlocking exclusive perks and savings for holidaymakersAviationOct 19, 2026 Mediterranean heritage sites face growing tourism, access challengesTourismOct 19, 2026 Cathay Pacific named best airline lounge provider in Asia-PacificAwardsOct 25, 2026 Cathay Pacific earns five honors at Business Traveller AwardsAwardsOct 25, 2026

MENAFN26102026000163011034ID1111866154