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NINTH INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON AVIATION PSYCHOLOGY BY
RICHARD O. REINHART, MD
HUMAN FACTORS RESOURCES, INC. and BUSINESS & COMMERCIAL AVIATION
TITLE OF WORKSHOP: "Flying Fatigued. A factor in lost SA"
OVERVIEW: Fatigue has long been recognized as a significant, yet subjective,
factor in the cause of aviation incidents and accidents. NASA's Fatigue
Countermeasures program has drawn a great deal of attention to the effects of
fatigue on everyone's performance. Yet, most people will relate fatigue solely
to sleep debt and the circadian changes in jet lag. There are many other causes
of fatigue, not the least being illness, self medication, unresolved stress,
hangover, and other physiological factors, many which are controllable.
Furthermore, situation awareness (SA) has become a major topic in safety
training. In fact, the advisory circular on CRM training has a change to ensure
incorporation of both fatigue and SA in a company's training curriculum. It's
logical that there is a close and dangerous relationship between lost SA and
fatigue. It's also critical that aircrew recognize the many factors of fatigue
and what they can do to prevent it as well as cope.
This workshop's objective is to acquaint the attendee in the many different
causes of fatigue as well as its association with loosing SA. In addition,
methods will be discussed to identify situations that can be controlled and
techniques to cope. The workshop will be interactive, using actual accidents
and incidents to describe how fatigue lead to lost SA and then to the final
event.
TOPICS TO BE COVERED
Hour 1: Introduction
* Definition of fatigue and SA
* Symptoms of fatigue
* Real world relationships between fatigue and lost SA
Hour 2: Fatigue from sleep debt and jet lag
* Sleep cycles, normal and abnormal
* Circadian changes
* NASA's Fatigue Countermeasures program
Hour 3: Fatigue's other causes
* Illness and self medication
* Stress identification
* Hypoxia
* Noise
* Hangover
Hour 4: Coping Strategies
* Crew Rest
* Stress management
* Preventative techniques
Handouts and course materials will be presented, including articles covering
many of these issues, all for use within the attendee's flight department.