Background
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Hypothesis 1: A flight crew contains a captain and copilot who are equally fatigued at work and at rest;
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Hypothesis 2: All take-off tasks have same effect on fatigue, all landing tasks have the same effect on fatigue and all cruising tasks have the same effect on fatigue;
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Hypothesis 3: At the time of the formal empirical experiment, the statuses of all pilots included in the experiment were similar;
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Hypothesis 4: The effect on pilot fatigue of a flight from Shanghai to Frankfurt is similar to that of a flight from Chongqing to Amsterdam in terms of time difference and flight time;
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Hypothesis 5: 4:00, 12:00 and 20:00 can represent the departure times of flights in the early morning, midday and evening, respectively.
Comparison of the two policies
Policy | Number of crew members/person | Maximum flight duty period/h | Maximum flight time limit/h | Transit break arrangements |
---|---|---|---|---|
CCAR-121a | 3 | 16–18 | 13 | Receive a rest period of at least 10 consecutive hours |
4 | 18–20 | 17 | ||
Exemption optionsb | 6 | 30 | 26 | A ground rest period of at least 3 consecutive hours and in a rest environment that meets the requirements of a Level 2 rest facility, and the rest period is not counted as part of the flight duty period |
26 | 21 | |||
8 | 35 | 30 | ||
26 | 21 |
Research methodology
SAFE model simulation calculation
Duty | Airport | Sleep | Rest | Other information |
---|---|---|---|---|
On date+time; Off date+time | Start; End; Home base | Count; Order; class | First/second start date+time; First/second start date+time | Crew composition; Time zone |
Empirical studies
Subjects
Experimental indicators
Experimental procedure
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Step 1: On the day the assignment begins (preferably when you wake up, before duty), click on DUTY DAY, then WAKING UP, fill in one of the SLEEP DIARY and then perform the PVT test;
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Step 2: After the start of duty and before the flight begins, click on WORK TASKS, click on PREFLIGHT to fill in the KSS scale and then perform the PVT test;
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Step 3: Click on INFLIGHT to fill in the KSS scale and finally perform the PVT test when the test time points during the flight are designed according to Fig. 1;
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Step 4: After the aircraft has landed, click on POST DUTY, fill in the KSS scale, perform the PVT test, then click on BEFORE SLEEPING and fill in the sleep diary, and finally, the software will automatically exit;
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step 5: Before returning, click on DUTY DAY, then go to WORK TASKS, then click on PREFLIGHT and repeat steps 2 and 3 above;
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Step 6: After the final return landing, click on POST DUTY, fill in the KSS scale, perform the PVT test, click on BEFORE SLEEPING and fill in the sleep diary. Finally, the software will automatically exit.
Crew type | Test moment (one way) | |
---|---|---|
Flight crew for each phase | All flight crew | |
Take-off crewa | Measured within 20 minutes of take-off and end of shift duties (start of in-flight rest); Measured within 20 minutes prior to taking over again. | Measured 2 hours prior to take-off; Measured before leaving the aircraft. |
Cruising crewb | Measured within 20 minutes prior to the start of the shift; Measured within 20 minutes of the end of the current shift assignment. | |
Landing crewa | Measured within 20 minutes prior to shift start; |
Flight work plan design under both the exemption and part CCAR-121 regulations
Flight start time | Crew | 10/18 4:00–10/18 7:00 | 10/18 7:00–10/18 13:00 | 10/18 13:00–10/18 15:30 | 3 hours rest | 10/18 18:30–10/18 21:30 | 10/18 21:30–10/19 3:00 | 10/19 3:00–10/19 5:00 |
Early morning | a | Flying | Resting | Flying | Resting | Resting | Resting | Resting |
b | Resting | Flying | Resting | Resting | Resting | Resting | Resting | |
c | Resting | Resting | Resting | Resting | Flying | Resting | Flying | |
d | Resting | Resting | Resting | Resting | Resting | Flying | Resting | |
Flight start time | Crew | 10/18 12:00–10/18 15:00 | 10/18 15:00–10/18 21:00 | 10/18 21:00–10/18 23:30 | 3 hours rest | 10/19 2:30–10/19 5:30 | 10/19 5:30–10/19 11:00 | 10/19 11:00–10/19 13:00 |
Noon | e | Flying | Resting | Flying | Resting | Resting | Resting | Resting |
f | Resting | Flying | Resting | Resting | Resting | Resting | Resting | |
g | Resting | Resting | Resting | Resting | Flying | Resting | Flying | |
h | Resting | Resting | Resting | Resting | Resting | Flying | Resting | |
Flight start time | Crew | 10/18 20:00–10/18 23:00 | 10/18 23:00–10/19 5:00 | 10/19 5:00–10/19 7:30 | 3 hours rest | 10/19 10:30–10/19 13:30 | 10/19 13:30–10/19 19:00 | 10/19 19:00–10/19 21:00 |
Evening | i | Flying | Resting | Flying | Resting | Resting | Resting | Resting |
j | Resting | Flying | Resting | Resting | Resting | Resting | Resting | |
k | Resting | Resting | Resting | Resting | Flying | Resting | Flying | |
l | Resting | Resting | Resting | Resting | Resting | Flying | Resting | |
Outbound | Destination | Return trip |
Flight start time | Crew | 10/15 4:00–10/15 7:00 | 10/15 7:00–10/15 12:30 | 10/15 12:30–10/15 14:35 | 10 hours rest | 10/16 0:35–10/16 3:35 | 10/16 3:35–10/16 8:35 | 10/16 8:35–10/16 10:35 |
Early morning | m | Flying | Resting | Flying | Resting | Flying | Resting | Flying |
n | Resting | Flying | Resting | Resting | Resting | Flying | Resting | |
Flight start time | Crew | 10/15 12:00–10/15 15:00 | 10/15 15:00–10/15 20:30 | 10/15 20:30–10/15 22:35 | 10 hours rest | 10/16 8:35–10/16 11:35 | 10/16 11:35–10/16 16:35 | 10/16 16:35–10/16 18:35 |
Noon | o | Flying | Resting | Flying | Resting | Flying | Resting | Flying |
p | Resting | Flying | Resting | Resting | Resting | Flying | Resting | |
Flight start time | Crew | 10/15 20:00–10/15 23:00 | 10/15 23:00–10/16 4:30 | 10/16 4:30–10/16 6:35 | 10 hours rest | 10/16 16:35–10/16 19:35 | 10/16 19:35–10/17 0:35 | 10/17 0:35–10/17 2:35 |
Evening | q | Flying | Resting | Flying | Resting | Flying | Resting | Flying |
r | Resting | Flying | Resting | Resting | Resting | Flying | Resting | |
Outbound | Destination | Return trip |
Data processing methods
Results
SAFE model prediction results
Empirical results and comparison with model results
KSS
PVT
Moment of take-off | Flight phase | Operational policy and flight crew | Outbound | Return trip | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Early morning(4:00) | Take-off/landing | – | Pre | SF-E | R-E | Post | Pre | SF-E | R-E | Post |
Exemption policy (Group a flies the outbound trip; Group c flies the return trip) | 1.20 ± 0.40 | 2.25 ± 0.83 | 2.60 ± 1.02 | 3.55 ± 0.74 | 1.90 ± 0.77 | 2.65 ± 0.73 | 3.75 ± 1.51 | 5.25 ± 1.30 | ||
CCAR-121(Group m flies the round trip) | 1.40 ± 0.49 | 2.45 ± 0.67 | 2.65 ± 1.01 | 3.65 ± 0.79 | 3.40 ± 1.11 | 4.50 ± 1.16 | 3.65 ± 0.65 | 3.05 ± 0.74 | ||
Cruising | – | Pre | SF-S | SF-E | Post | Pre | SF-S | SF-E | Post | |
Exemption policy (Group b flies the outbound trip; Group d flies the return trip) | 1.80 ± 0.40 | 2.35 ± 0.48 | 4.45 ± 0.59 | 5.30 ± 0.649 | 2.50 ± 0.50 | 3.45 ± 0.59 | 5.90 ± 0.62 | 6.90 ± 0.83 | ||
CCAR-121(Group n flies the round trip) | 2.25 ± 0.43 | 2.50 ± 0.50 | 4.30 ± 0.64 | 5.35 ± 0.73 | 3.60 ± 0.49 | 4.05 ± 0.67 | 5.80 ± 0.68 | 4.95 ± 1.16 | ||
Noon(12:00) | Take-off/landing | – | Pre | SF-E | R-E | Post | Pre | SF-E | R-E | Post |
Exemption policy (Group e flies the outbound trip; Group g flies the return trip) | 2.45 ± 0.67 | 3.60 ± 0.66 | 3.95 ± 0.86 | 5.25 ± 0.62 | 2.85 ± 0.96 | 4.25 ± 0.70 | 4.75 ± 1.18 | 5.65 ± 1.52 | ||
CCAR-121(Group o flies the round trip) | 2.55 ± 0.50 | 4.35 ± 0.48 | 4.80 ± 1.12 | 5.65 ± 1.11 | 2.45 ± 0.80 | 3.90 ± 1.34 | 2.40 ± 0.66 | 3.85 ± 1.53 | ||
Cruising | – | Pre | SF-S | SF-E | Post | Pre | SF-S | SF-E | Post | |
Exemption policy (Group f flies the outbound trip; Group h flies the return trip) | 2.30 ± 0.78 | 3.35 ± 0.73 | 5.85 ± 0.73 | 6.05 ± 0.97 | 3.50 ± 0.50 | 3.65 ± 0.48 | 5.05 ± 0.86 | 4.95 ± 1.32 | ||
CCAR-121(Group p flies the round trip) | 2.25 ± 0.77 | 2.45 ± 0.50 | 5.50 ± 1.16 | 6.10 ± 1.09 | 2.45 ± 0.50 | 2.55 ± 0.50 | 3.90 ± 1.04 | 3.50 ± 0.59 | ||
Evening(20:00) | Take-off/landing | – | Pre | SF-E | R-E | Post | Pre | SF-E | R-E | Post |
Exemption policy (Group i flies the outbound trip; Group k flies the return trip) | 2.70 ± 0.64 | 4.10 ± 0.77 | 3.60 ± 0.49 | 4.95 ± 1.20 | 2.00 ± 0.71 | 3.45 ± 0.59 | 3.90 ± 1.79 | 4.30 ± 1.49 | ||
CCAR-121(Group q flies the round trip) | 2.75 ± 0.54 | 4.15 ± 0.91 | 2.75 ± 0.43 | 5.00 ± 0.89 | 2.25 ± 0.77 | 3.55 ± 0.59 | 2.45 ± 0.92 | 5.10 ± 0.77 | ||
Cruising | – | Pre | SF-S | SF-E | Post | Pre | SF-S | SF-E | Post | |
Exemption policy (Group j flies the outbound trip; Group l flies the return trip) | 2.45 ± 0.50 | 3.40 ± 0.49 | 4.40 ± 0.49 | 5.15 ± 0.80 | 1.90 ± 0.63 | 2.35 ± 0.48 | 3.40 ± 0.49 | 4.95 ± 0.86 |
Moment of take-off | Flight phase | Operational policy and flight crew | Outbound | Return trip | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Early morning(4:00) | Take-off/landing | – | Pre | SF-E | R-E | Post | Pre | SF-E | R-E | Post |
Exemption policy (Group a flies the outbound trip; Group c flies the return trip) | 1.30 ± 0.05 | 1.14 ± 0.04 | 1.00 ± 0.12 | 0.85 ± 0.07 | 0.98 ± 0.13 | 0.83 ± 0.07 | 0.89 ± 0.09 | 0.77 ± 0.07 | ||
CCAR-121(Group m flies the round trip) | 1.43 ± 0.07 | 1.16 ± 0.08 | 1.05 ± 0.16 | 0.84 ± 0.09 | 1.18 ± 0.11 | 1.03 ± 0.13 | 0.90 ± 0.09 | 0.84 ± 0.10 | ||
Cruising | – | Pre | SF-S | SF-E | Post | Pre | SF-S | SF-E | Post | |
Exemption policy (Group b flies the outbound trip; Group d flies the return trip) | 1.48 ± 0.06 | 1.33 ± 0.10 | 1.09 ± 0.20 | 1.00 ± 0.09 | 1.12 ± 0.10 | 0.96 ± 0.09 | 1.07 ± 0.05 | 0.92 ± 0.11 | ||
CCAR-121(Group n flies the round trip) | 1.44 ± 0.07 | 1.28 ± 0.08 | 1.13 ± 0.08 | 0.92 ± 0.08 | 1.06 ± 0.10 | 0.96 ± 0.08 | 0.96 ± 0.06 | 0.88 ± 0.08 | ||
Noon(12:00) | Take-off/landing | – | Pre | SF-E | R-E | Post | Pre | SF-E | R-E | Post |
Exemption policy (Group e flies the outbound trip; Group g flies the return trip) | 1.40 ± 0.06 | 1.28 ± 0.08 | 1.13 ± 0.08 | 0.98 ± 0.06 | 1.18 ± 0.05 | 1.05 ± 0.06 | 0.96 ± 0.08 | 0.85 ± 0.12 | ||
CCAR-121(Group o flies the round trip) | 1.34 ± 0.09 | 1.25 ± 0.05 | 1.02 ± 0.06 | 0.96 ± 0.09 | 1.21 ± 0.07 | 1.13 ± 0.09 | 1.04 ± 0.08 | 0.92 ± 0.13 | ||
Cruising | – | Pre | SF-S | SF-E | Post | Pre | SF-S | SF-E | Post | |
Exemption policy (Group f flies the outbound trip; Group h flies the return trip) | 1.41 ± 0.07 | 1.32 ± 0.06 | 1.19 ± 0.06 | 1.04 ± 0.08 | 1.15 ± 0.07 | 1.11 ± 0.09 | 1.05 ± 0.07 | 0.95 ± 0.08 | ||
CCAR-121(Group p flies the round trip) | 1.40 ± 0.07 | 1.31 ± 0.10 | 1.14 ± 0.07 | 1.03 ± 0.08 | 1.17 ± 0.11 | 1.10 ± 0.06 | 1.04 ± 0.05 | 0.93 ± 0.08 | ||
Evening(20:00) | Take-off/landing | – | Pre | SF-E | R-E | Post | Pre | SF-E | R-E | Post |
Exemption policy (Group i flies the outbound trip; Group k flies the return trip) | 1.40 ± 0.10 | 1.28 ± 0.09 | 1.10 ± 0.06 | 0.94 ± 0.08 | 1.02 ± 0.05 | 0.92 ± 0.06 | 0.88 ± 0.07 | 0.83 ± 0.09 | ||
CCAR-121(Group q flies the round trip) | 1.39 ± 0.07 | 1.26 ± 0.05 | 1.11 ± 0.09 | 0.98 ± 0.10 | 1.01 ± 0.16 | 0.98 ± 0.10 | 0.91 ± 0.08 | 0.83 ± 0.07 | ||
Cruising | – | Pre | SF-S | SF-E | Post | Pre | SF-S | SF-E | Post | |
exemption policy (Group j flies the outbound, Group l flies the return trip) | 1.45 ± 0.05 | 1.31 ± 0.06 | 1.20 ± 0.08 | 1.05 ± 0.05 | 1.02 ± 0.03 | 0.93 ± 0.06 | 0.85 ± 0.10 | 0.84 ± 0.09 | ||
CCAR-121(Group r flies the round trip) | 1.45 ± 0.07 | 1.34 ± 0.06 | 1.18 ± 0.08 | 1.02 ± 0.07 | 1.02 ± 0.14 | 0.97 ± 0.10 | 0.89 ± 0.077 | 0.88 ± 0.09 |