Airlines and Pilots Push For Naps in the Cockpit

Airlines and Pilots Push For Naps in the Cockpit

Airlines and Pilots Push For Naps in the Cockpit


It might not seem like a good idea when you first hear about it, but many in the airline industry are pushing the Federal Aviation Administration to allow pilots on commercial airplanes to take short naps during flights. Pilot unions and U.S. airlines stand behind the idea as a way to make flying safer.

The problem of pilot fatigue has been around for a long time and there are many stories of incidents involving sleep deprived pilots in the cockpit. But after the crash near Buffalo last January, the issue continues to receive attention and now the industry appears to be in agreement to push for controlled naps for pilots.

“There’s no question it produces better pilot performance at the critical phases of flight” is what sleep researcher Gregory Belenky told the Wall Street Journal about how naps during cruise could be helpful during the more demanding approach and landings. The article points out that many pilots already take naps on flights, citing the now well known long work schedules of commuter pilots as an example of where fatigue is particularly problematic.

Just last year the FAA and NTSB looked into the problem at a symposium to address pilot fatigue problems. But despite the fact that carriers outside the U.S. such as British Airways and Qantas allow pilots to nap (one at a time), the FAA hasn’t been willing to budge on the issue.

According to the WSJ story, controlled napping was going to be allowed in the mid-1990s, but senior officials in the Department of Transportation nixed the idea fearing ridicule from the public. Indeed, many in the industry say one of the challenges is being able to convince the public that allowing one of the two pilots in the cockpit to catch a little shut eye is safe and could reduce the chances of mishaps during the more demanding sections of their flight.

Photo: Flickr/Fly for Fun