Considering Commercial Single Pilot Operations for Different Flight Durations: An Issue of Fatigue Management

Abstract

With an increase in flight length and duration, long-haul and ultra-long-haul flights require a comprehensive fatigue management approach in order to minimize risk. Currently, regulators manage fatigue with strategies such as duty time limits and minimum number of crew. All airlines have to implement a Fatigue Risk Management System. When considering Single Pilot Operations (SPO) for commercial airliners an approach for fatigue management has not yet been developed. The present paper reviews fatigue management guidelines and mitigation strategies to consider them for a possible application to SPO. An overview over differences between flight durations and crewing in SPO is presented with the requirements for a relief crewmember. Finally, it is argued that flight duration will become more important in SPO but the basics of fatigue management especially can be adapted. Nonetheless, the application of in-flight mitigation strategies will have to be reconsidered and tailored directly to the concept of SPO with respect to its future advanced automation tools and their reliability.