Crew fatigue is now the limiting factor in modern aviation. Long haul aircraft expand international flights beyond 16 hours of duty, and night flights and extended duty days become ever-more critical to optimizing short haul economics. In this time-pressured environment, runway incursions and mid-air near misses reveal the vulnerability to human error in an otherwise safe industry.
Great challenges also remain in the staffing and scheduling of ground personnel -- on the ramp and at the counter. Years of adversarial labor relations have created significant inefficiencies and equipment damage costs, which can only be solved collaboratively.
Challenges
- Safe optimization of crew pairing, and pilot substitutions Unless crew fatigue is factored in, optimization software can create excess fatigue risk.
- Fatigue risk management Lip service or one-time training doesn’t provide any protection. Fatigue risk has to be proactively managed.
- Costly damage -- below the wing Labor disputes and poor morale lead to errors and costly damage to equipment.
- FAA Ops Specs for ULR routes Concern about crew fatigue in ultra long range flights has led the FAA to demand scientifically-validated fatigue risk management plans.
- Law suits and arbitrations Expert help is needed to resolve crew disputes on flight-time duty-time and claims of crew fatigue.
How CIRCADIAN can help you
For 25 years CIRCADIAN has helped airlines and crewmembers resolve these challenges in both Part 121 and 135 operations. We provide:
- Aircrew fatigue risk models. Scientifically-validated crew fatigue risk models assess crew pairing options, manage crew error risk, and provide support to FAA Ops Specs applications
- Fatigue risk training. Crew education materials, train-the trainer programs, aircrew and ground crew fatigue education
- Fatigue Risk Management Systems. Comprehensive systems that protect safety, reputation & liability
- FAA ULR Ops Specs. Expert support in developing applications that meet FAA standards
- Labor-management hearings and arbitrations. Expert testimony, scientifically objective analyses and support in win-win negotiations
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Expert testimony in human factors, error & injury lawsuits. With its expert team, Circadian Expert Services consults and provides testimony on accident, workers compensation and product liability litigation related to human factors, fatigue, impairment and working hours.