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https://trb-annual-meeting.nationalacademies.org/registration

Fatigue Risk in Helicopter Air Ambulance Pilots

Pilot fatigue risks in helicopter air ambulance (HAA) operations due to the on-call nature and shiftwork required for 24-hour emergency service are an important safety consideration. The objective of this research is to characterize the current state of fatigue in HAA operations in the United States. This will consist of a field study with HAA pilots as they perform their normal scheduled duties and flights in response to emergency medical service requests. Research will target known fatigue risk areas based on the draft fatigue-risk baseline, including circadian disruptions, cumulative fatigue, and sleep inertia. Specifically, the focus of this analysis will include factors that explain pilots' performance, fatigue ratings, sleepiness rating, and sleep metrics in separate statistical models. Research will provide empirical data to inform Flight Standards (FS) personnel who update FAA regulatory and guidance material to improve the strategic use of rest facilities, and fitness for duty requirements in HAA Operations.