Fatigue is a state in which mental or physical performance declines because of sleep loss, extended wakefulness, circadian disruption or heavy workload. It can reduce alertness, concentration and decision-making, all of which are critical to aviation safety.
Managing fatigue helps pilots, air traffic controllers and other aviation staff carry out their duties safely. Well-designed programs lower the chance of fatigue-related errors and incidents.
Aviation organisations should maintain structured Fatigue Risk Management Systems (FRMS) to track and mitigate risks. An effective FRMS includes clear policies, education, appropriate rostering, incident reporting tools and ongoing evaluation.
