In 1980, in response to a congressional request, NASA Ames Research Center created a Fatigue/Jet Lag Program to examine whether "there is a safety problem, of uncertain magnitude, due to transmeridian flying and a potential problem due to fatigue in association with various factors found in air transport operations." Since 1980, the Program has pursued the following three goals: (1) to determine the extent of fatigue, sleep loss, and circadian disruption in flight operations; (2) to determine the effect of these factors on flight crew performance; and (3) to develop and evaluate countermeasures to reduce the adverse effects of these factors and to maximize flight crew performance and alertness. It has been a priority since the ProgramÕs inception to return the information acquired through its extensive research to the operatorsÑthe line pilots, air carriers, and others. In 1991, the Program underwent a name change, becoming the NASA Ames Fatigue Countermeasures Program, to highlight the increased focus on the development and evaluation of fatigue countermeasures. (For a more com-plete description of the Program, see footnote 2 below.) With this increased emphasis on counter-measures, it became important to organize and disseminate what had been learned about fatigue, sleep, and circadian rhythms in flight operations.

Although data continue to accumulate, there is now enough scientific and operational data to create this Education and Training Module on strategies for alertness management in flight operations. The overall purpose of this module is to promote aviation safety, performance, and productivity. It is intended to meet three specific objectives: (1) to explain the current state of knowledge about the physiological mechanisms underlying fatigue; (2) to demonstrate how this knowledge can be applied to improving flight crew sleep, performance, and alertness; and (3) to offer strategies for alertness management.

This module is presented in three distinct parts. The first part addresses fatigue factors in flight operations. It provides basic information on sleep, sleepiness, circadian rhythms, and how flight operations affect these physiological factors. The second part identifies some widely held misconceptions and shows why they are false. Finally, the third part provides recommendations for alertness management strategies in flight operations. This Education and Training Module is intended to be offered as a live presentation by a trained individual. Its interactive format will provide a forum for discussions of how this information and the recommended strategies can be applied in specific flight operations.

This NASA/FAA document was developed to complement the live presentation of the Module. It includes a foreword by Dr. John K. Lauber, one of the original investigators who started the NASA Ames Fatigue/Jet Lag Program and a former Member of the National Transportation Safety Board. The information contained in the presentation slides constitutes the main body of this publication.

Brief introductions to sleep disorders and to relaxation techniques are presented in appendixes A and B, respectively. Appendix C contains summaries of relevant NASA publications, including studies in short-haul, long-haul, and helicopter operations, and the NASA/FAA study on planned cockpit rest in long-haul flying. The last two appendixes provide a list of representative publications from the NASA Ames Fatigue Countermeasures Program (appendix D) and a list of general readings on sleep, sleep disorders, and circadian rhythms (appendix E).

The format of this publication is designed for two purposes: (1) to facilitate training and (2) to provide a reference for those who use the information. For trainers, the slides provide presentation material, while the text provides some guidelines as to what information should be addressed when presenting the Module. For those applying the information, the text elaborates on the slides for later reference.

This is the first formal step taken by the NASA Ames Fatigue Countermeasures Program to provide education and training information on fatigue, sleep, and circadian rhythms in flight operations, and to recommend strategies for managing alertness on the flight deck. As future scientific and operational advances are made, this module will evolve to incorporate the latest findings, information, and recommendations. Therefore, any comments, questions, or requests regarding this module would be greatly appreciated. Please address them to: Fatigue Countermeasures Program, NASA Ames Research Center, MS 262-4, Moffett Field, California 94035-1000.

Curator: Dinah Reduta
December 28, 2001