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“We developed these guidelines after significant
scientific review, extensive analysis of
industry practices and industry feedback,” said
Leigh White, president of Alertness Solutions
and lead of NBAA’s Fatigue Task Force. “Our goal
was to present the latest data and guidance –
both rooted in science – to company and flight
department management to help educate them about
how to best use their crews.”
White said that the new document takes into
consideration scientific advances since the
first duty/rest guidelines were published 17
years ago and presents “clear and unassailable”
guidelines and recommendations. The latest
research on fatigue and information on fatigue
management practices is also presented. Panels
composed of a number of the world’s leading
industry leaders and scientific experts
participated in the updating process, said
White, adding that the International Civil
Aviation Organization and International Business
Aviation Council both plan on publishing the
report’s findings in the future.
In the report’s foreword, White notes that the
intent was to provide “a useful tool that is
practical and easy to understand and implement.
These guidelines hopefully will set the
cornerstone of every fatigue management effort
in this sector of aviation, with both their
design and recommendations easily incorporated
into any operator’s flight operations manual.”
The guidelines are applicable to any kind of
business aviation operation, from the smallest
domestic operator to the largest international
flight department.
“The new duty/rest guidelines provide the strong
foundation upon which business aircraft
operators worldwide can start to reexamine how
they approach crews’ fitness for duty,” said
Peter Korns, NBAA operations specialist.
“Fatigue touches everyone in the flight
department, and while our industry is committed
to developing better safety practices, these
guidelines should be the driving force of
advanced thinking about duty/rest policies and
fatigue management techniques.”
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