Pilot fatigue

In aviation much consideration has been given to the maximum duration of duty periods. In Europe the amendment A5-0263/2002, which has recently been passed by the European Parliament, determines a maximum duty period of 14 hr for pilots. Therefore, the European Cockpit Association has argued that this maximum allowable period together with the mandated rest times may constitute a recipe for cumulative sleep debt. This suspicion is supported by the work of Hamelin, who found that accident risk doubles when duty periods exceed 11 hr. Thus, this new EU regulation is weaker in its potential to prevent pilot fatigue than the old UK regulation. 

Harris WC, Sachau D, Hanis SC, Allen R. The relationship between working conditions and commercial pilot fatigue development. Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 2001 185-188. 

Eye closure duration resulting from pilot fatigue Miller (1996)... 

Matthew L. Wald Christine Negroni, Errors Cited in 09 Crash Could Persist, FA.A. Says, NYT, February 1, 2010, at A14 (FAA mles) Matthew L. Wald, Small Lines are Target of New Rules for Pilots, NYT, June 16,2009, at 17 Andy Pazstor Susan Carey, Pilot Fatigue Spurs Calls for New Safeguards, WSJ, September 12, 2008, at Ai Andy Pasztor Christopher Conkey, Safety Pushes Stall at Embattled FAA, WSJ, June 26, 2008, at Ai (FAA proposal). 

Balanced bellows type valves are normally used where the relief valves are piped to a closed flare system and the back-pressure exceeds 10% of the set pressure, where conventional valves can t be used because back-pressure is too high. They are also used in flow lines, multiphase lines, or for ptu affinic or asphaltic crude, where pilot-operated valves can t be used due to possible plugging of the pilot line. An advantage of this type of relief valve is, for corrosive or dirty service, the bellows protects the spring from process fluid. A disadvantage is that the bellows can fatigue, which will allow process fluid to escape through the bonnet. For HjS service, the bonnet vent must be piped to a safe area. 

Mills, K.C. et al., The influence of stimulants, sedatives, and fatigue on tunnel vision risk factors for driving and piloting, Hum. Factors, 43, 310, 2001. 

O Dell MW, Meighen M, Riggs RV. Correlates of fatigue in HIV infection prior to AIDS a pilot study. Disabil Rehabil 1996 18 249-254. 

In Europe, little or no work has been officially commissioned to investigate underlying factors for human operator fatigue. Consequently, for many years new laws have been implemented in the United States and Canada to reduce the risk of fatigue-related catastrophes, while outdated regulations are still in effect in Europe. Therefore, it is not surprising that the latest implementation of hours-of-service regulations for European pilots, A5-0263/2002 (50), has been heavily opposed by the European Cockpit Association. 

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