It may be the joke du jour of late night comics, but the fact that Northwest Airlines pilots overshot the Minneapolis runway by 150 miles is no laughing matter. Despite the pilots’ claims that they were immersed in a laptop training session, many suspect that they simply nodded off. The off-course meander and lack of communication sent 9-11 shock waves through Homeland Security which scrambled a couple of fighter jets to check out the situation. Wonder if it was the air force escort that woke the pilots up?
Whatever the real facts, the incident has served to spotlight a growing problem in the airline industry. Sleep deprivation and the extreme fatigue it causes have become a serious industry concern that affects both pilots and ground personnel. Over-long work hours, poor shift management and staff reductions are to blame. Sleep apnea, a common respiratory condition that stops breathing, preventing a good night’s sleep, may also play a part. The National Transportation Safety Board has added airline pilots to those for whom sleep apnea screening is recommended: commercial truck and bus drivers, train operators and merchant ship pilots.
Whether the problem is medical or overwork, falling asleep at the stick or at critical ground controls is a growing problem in the aviation industry. According to USA Today, NASA’s Aviation Safety Reporting System has received several dozen anonymous reports of dozing. The February crash of a Continental connector near Buffalo that killed 49 was linked to sleep deprived pilots.
New FAA regulations limiting pilot work hours are expected in 2010 but that addresses only part of the problem. Overworked and physically stressed ground crews are more apt to make mistakes that can result in accidents and even tragedy. And what about small FOBs with limited crews or private pilots who handle their own ground time before they fly? Ergonomically-designed aircraft tugs alleviate the physical strain of moving aircraft that can exacerbate exhaustion. Every little bit helps!
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