An investigation by the European Cockpit Association into pilot fatigue practices across Europe has revealed significant safety and management concerns within the aviation industry. The organization surveyed nearly 7,200 captains and first officers in August, collecting data on fatigue-related incidents and reporting practices across European carriers.
The research documented widespread fatigue-related incidents among pilots. Three-quarters of respondents reported experiencing at least one microsleep—a brief, involuntary sleep episode—while operating an aircraft within the four weeks preceding the survey. Pilots based in Ireland and Malta reported particularly high levels of microsleeps, with more than one-third indicating insufficient rest to prevent fatigue accumulation over time.
Despite the prevalence of fatigue, reporting practices appear inconsistent with safety requirements. Only one in three pilots typically reported themselves unfit for duty when experiencing fatigue, while half acknowledged operating flights within the previous three months when they should have declared themselves too fatigued to fly. Almost a quarter of respondents stated they routinely continue flying rather than report themselves unfit, citing concerns about management repercussions. An additional 16.8% reported calling in sick instead of using official fatigue reporting channels.
Trust in airline fatigue management systems remains limited, with just 11.9% of pilots expressing confidence in their carrier’s reporting mechanisms. Nearly half feared negative consequences from management if they reported fatigue-related unfitness. Geographic variations emerged, with pilots at Ireland- and Malta-based airlines reporting the highest levels of management concerns and the lowest confidence in reporting systems. Geographic disparities also appeared in willingness to fly fatigued, with two in five Spanish airline pilots and one-third of those at Ireland- and France-based carriers stating they usually fly despite fatigue, compared with one in ten at UK-based airlines.
The survey also revealed concerns regarding commander’s discretion policies, which permit captains to extend crew working hours or reduce rest periods in exceptional situations. Nearly two in five pilots reported using this authority at least once in the month prior to the survey, while approximately 70% expressed concerns about refusing to extend their duty, suggesting the measure may operate under significant crew pressure. Low-cost carriers and wet-lease operators showed the lowest confidence in fatigue management, with 15.6% at discount airlines believing their carriers managed fatigue risks effectively.
ECA leadership called for regulatory action, stating that stronger fatigue management rules and enforcement are necessary, rather than placing responsibility solely on flight crews to manage risks during operations.
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