However, only 15.6% of pilots at low-cost carriers believed their airline managed fatigue risks well, compared with 18.6% at ACMI or wet-lease operators, which supply aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance to other airlines.
Pilots report pressure to extend working hours and fears of penalties for declaring themselves unfit to fly, with the survey finding that three-quarters of respondents had experienced at least one microsleep—defined as a brief, involuntary episode of sleep—while operating an aircraft in the previous four weeks.
The survey, conducted in August, highlights widespread fatigue as a significant safety concern across the industry, capable of impairing pilots' judgment, slowing their reactions, reducing alertness, and impairing responses to unexpected situations.
Nearly a quarter of European airline pilots routinely fly despite being too fatigued to work, while three in four have experienced microsleeps in the cockpit, according to a new report.
Pilots working for airlines based in Ireland and Malta were among the most likely to fear management reprisals and the least likely to trust the reporting systems.
Pilots at low-cost and wet-lease operators, as well as those working for airlines registered in Ireland and Malta, reported the greatest concerns regarding safety management.
Under European aviation safety regulations, airlines are required to have systems in place to identify, monitor, and manage crew fatigue.
In aviation, fatigue can result from long duty hours, insufficient rest, irregular schedules, and flying across time zones, all of which disrupt the body's natural sleep cycle.
Nearly 70% of respondents expressed concern about refusing to extend their duty, suggesting that a measure intended for exceptional situations may be accompanied by significant pressure on flight crews.