Fatigue, Schedules, Sleep, and Sleepiness in U.S. Commercial Pilots During COVID-19

Medical reasons for permanent and temporary disqualification of Turkish civil aviation pilots

The aim of this study was to identify diseases that result in permanent and temporary medical disqualification for civil aviation pilots and their changes over the years. A retrospective analysis was conducted on the medical examination records performed in Turkey from 2018 to 2022, in accordance with ICAO and EASA standards. The permanent disqualification rate was 1.3%, and the temporary disqualification rate was 6.6%. The most common reasons for permanent disqualification among pilots were circulatory system diseases (24%), mental and behavioral disorders (22.9%), and nervous system diseases (11.5%). The most common reasons for temporary disqualification among pilots were circulatory system diseases (17.9%), digestive system diseases (11.8%), and health problems related to COVID-19 infection (9.5%). The data obtained from this study may be useful in developing preventive medicine approaches to prevent medical disqualifications and in-flight medical incapacitation.

Exercise Effect on Mental Health in Isolating or Quarantining Adults

INTRODUCTION: In response to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), travelers are typically subject to quarantine, which is often associated with poorer mental health (MH). While the protective benefits of community-based exercise are widely recognized, the degree to which this extends to the confined setting is unknown. This systematic review aims to evaluate the effect of exercise on MH in isolating or quarantining adults.METHODS: A literature search of Ovid MEDLINE, APA PsycInfo, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews limited to January 2019-September 2021 inclusive yielded five eligible studies.RESULTS: Data comprised a total of 2755 college and university students, most of whom were confined. Depending on the scale used, 24.9-76.7% of respondents demonstrated impaired MH, which improved with physical activity (PA), especially when regular and moderate or vigorous. The frequency, duration, and participants of exercise increased as lockdown progressed. One study showed that while sleep, diet, and PA all have an impact on MH, PA was the factor most strongly correlated with MH.DISCUSSION: Physical fitness should be optimized before and maintained during quarantine while exercise space and equipment should be accessible. Importantly, the sustainability of persistent quarantine must be considered given the pervasiveness of COVID-19.Chu V, Newman DG. Exercise effect on mental health in isolating or quarantining adults. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2023; 94(9):686-695.

Health in the Skies: A Narrative Review of the Issues Faced by Commercial Airline Pilots

While the health of airline pilots is crucial to ensuring the safe travel of millions of people worldwide, they remain vulnerable to a variety of health challenges due to the nature of their job. The purpose of this narrative review is to provide a comprehensive summary of the most common health issues experienced by commercial airline pilots. By examining the published literature on this topic, we sought to identify areas where further research is needed to understand better the health risks associated with being a pilot and to develop effective interventions to address these risks. We also highlight how recent technological advances in digital health can be leveraged to conduct research into the potential usefulness of telehealth assessments for identifying occupational hazards in the aviation sector and providing targeted interventions. Overall, addressing the challenges of taking care of pilots' health and ensuring public safety will require a collaborative effort among airlines, governments, and regulators. Prioritizing pilot health and safety can actually improve profitability in the aviation sector by reducing costs associated with absenteeism, turnover, and accidents.

Self-rated health (SRH), recovery from work, fatigue, and insomnia among commercial pilots concerning occupational and non-occupational factors

Background

This study investigated associations of self-rated health (SRH), recovery from work, fatigue, and insomnia with working conditions, the psychosocial work environment, lifestyle, and sense of coherence (SOC) among commercial pilots.

Methods

A standardized questionnaire was sent to all pilots in an airline company, of whom 354 (61%) responded. Associations were analyzed via ordinal and logistic regression with mutual adjustment.

Results

Overall, 21.8% of participants reported low SRH, 13.0% reported not recovering from work during their free time, 61.9% experienced fatigue, and 70.6% experienced insomnia symptoms. A high level of demand at work was associated with poor SRH and more fatigue, and low social support at work was associated with insomnia and poorer recovery from work. Habits surrounding exercise and BMI were associated with SRH. Part-time pilots and captains reported experiencing better recovery from work than their counterparts, while female pilots and younger pilots reported less fatigue. Amount of free time after work and the type of airplane operated were associated with experience of insomnia symptoms. Finally, having a strong sense of coherence was protectively associated with all health outcomes.

Conclusion

The psychosocial environment at work is essential for the health of pilots, and a strong sense of coherence can be protective. Occupational conditions may influence recovery from work, fatigue, and insomnia. Moreover, engaging in exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, working part-time, and having more free time after the working day could improve pilots' health.

Sleep Quality and Mental Health Consequences of COVID-19 Pandemic in the Aviation Community in Greece

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to assess the mental health and sleep quality of aviation workers in Greece during the pandemic.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study of aviation workers in Greece was conducted.

RESULTS

Sleep disturbances were observed in 25.4% of our 548 participants, whereas 8.2% and 5.8% reported at least mild depressive and anxiety symptoms, respectively. The impact of the pandemic on their mental health was their primary concern, which increased for many active pilots according to their workload. Those infected mainly faced daily tiredness and fatigue. Smoking habits and high body mass index were a predisposition for more physical symptoms. Cabin crew and women generally yielded worse scores than the other groups.

CONCLUSION

Fear of infection could explain mental health issues, whereas physical symptoms of those infected could be attributed to long-COVID (coronavirus disease) syndrome. Flight attendants' lower ratings may be due to more occupational exposure.