Higgins, Jonathan, Efthymiou, Marina
ORCID: 0000-0001-8611-5973 and Ropotos, Ioannis
ORCID: 0009-0008-7777-5804
(2026)
Improving flight safety through controlled rest: pilot practices and perceptions.
Safety Science, 193
.
ISSN 1879-1042
Abstract
The aviation industry maintains high safety standards, yet fatigue remains a persistent challenge among flight crew, with fatigue-related human error contributing to a significant proportion of accidents. This study investigates Controlled Rest (CR) as a countermeasure to fatigue in commercial aviation, assessing its acceptability and effectiveness from the perspective of pilots. Data were collected from 232 commercial pilots through a survey distributed across multiple regions and operational contexts, revealing that over 75% view CR as an effective countermeasure to fatigue. Approximately half the participants utilize CR weekly, with long-haul pilots reporting higher usage. Results indicate that CR is generally regarded as a safe, efficient tool for mitigating fatigue-related risks in flight operations, with a subset of pilots citing challenges in its implementation. Findings underscore the potential for CR to improve aviation safety and inform future fatigue management policies. Recommendations for integrating CR into Fatigue Risk Management Systems (FRMS) are discussed, providing actionable insights for regulators and operators.
Metadata
| Item Type: | Article (Published) |
|---|---|
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Controlled rest, Fatigue, Pilots, Safety, Aviation, just culture, airlines |
| Subjects: | Business > Personnel management Business > Industries |
| DCU Faculties and Centres: | DCU Faculties and Schools > DCU Business School |
| Publisher: | Elsevier Ltd |
| Official URL: | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/... |
| Copyright Information: | Authors |
| ID Code: | 32882 |
| Deposited On: | 03 Jul 2026 09:45 by Tam Nguyen . Last Modified 03 Jul 2026 09:45 |
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