Page 13 - 2016-Issue3

FATIGUE MANAGEMENT 13

n early 2015, IFALPA, ICAO and IATA
Ireleased an updated version of the
co-branded Fatigue Risk Management Systems Definition of Terms
Implementation Guide for Operators. This • FTL (Flight Time Limitations) - often used to define the prescriptive approach, also
new version includes more than just guidance encompasses basic flight and duty regulations.
on Fatigue Risk Management Systems (FRMS). • FM (Fatigue Management) - In the newest of regulations, it is a mandatory method
It includes appropriate methods to mitigate to look at fatigue risks more holistically; in essence, ensures that fatigue hazards are
pilot fatigue via a prescriptive approach and managed using the SMS processes that are in place for managing other types of
develop a path to better mitigate fatigue with a hazards.
data-driven, risk-based, approach. This new
version is titled Fatigue Management Guide for • FRMS (Fatigue Risk Management System) - A data-driven means of continuously
Airline Operators. This manual is available on monitoring and managing fatigue-related safety risks, based on scientific principles,
IFALPA’s, ICAO’s and IATA’s web pages, and knowledge and operational experience that aims to ensure relevant personnel are
you are encouraged to download and distribute performing at adequate levels of alertness.
it as needed.
The purpose of this article is to provide a
basic introduction of the prescriptive approach
to flight and duty time regulations and then
apply a Safety Management Systems (SMS)
driven approach to Fatigue Management (FM).
This will then build the foundation on how
one can introduce Fatigue Risk Management
Systems (FRMS), as desired or needed, to
enhance FTL and effectively mitigate fatigue
and enhance alertness. To properly paint this
picture, it is important to recognize that the
management of safety risks is evolving into a
data-driven, risk-based approach, rather than
a prescriptive, carrot and stick, approach. Since
pilot fatigue is one of many safety risks Figure 1
associated with the profession, to be truly
effective, and in some regards innovative, one • The circadian body clock affects the the same manner as other hazards in the
has to accept that the “traditional” prescriptive timing and quality of sleep and produces organization. In the most recent rulemaking
approach does not provide a complete solution daily highs and lows in performance on efforts in North America and Europe, this
in the quest to minimize pilot fatigue. various tasks. process is specifically defined and is
Before moving beyond a basic prescriptive • Workload can contribute to an individual’s mandatory for all airline operators operating
approach, it is a requirement to have an ICAO level of fatigue. Low workload may under US FAR or EASA rules (e.g. InFO
compliant prescriptive approach based on unmask physiological sleepiness while 10013, FRMP and ORO.FTL.110, Fatigue
scientific principles established in one’s high workload may exceed the capacity of Management).
respective country. These scientific principles a fatigued individual. While moving to a broader FM approach is
are: still accomplished under a prescriptive ruleset;
Referring to Figure 1, the basic prescriptive
• Getting enough sleep (both quantity and approach is somewhat restrictive in what it can using the SMS process has the potential to take
quality) on a regular basis as it is essential accomplish and has no additional obligations the first steps in “type of operation” flexibility.
for restoring the brain and body. for the operator except complying with a set Although less restrictive from a regulatory
• Reducing the amount or the quality of value in the regulation. Once an ICAO perspective, this approach will be more
comprehensive from a fatigue risk perspective
sleep, even for a single night, decreases the compliant prescriptive scheme is in place, as the operator will have to identify hazards,
ability to function and increases sleepiness Safety Management Systems (SMS) processes limit the operation due to those identified
the next day. can be applied to manage fatigue hazards in
InterPilot | The Safety and Technical Journal of IFALPA ISSue 3 | 2016