How Fatigue Affects Flight Instructors: Impact on Safety and Pilot Training

What is it about?

This study looks at how fatigue and burnout affect flight instructors and the impact this has on safety and the quality of pilot training. We analyzed reports from aviation safety databases and surveyed flight instructors and students to understand the problem better. Our findings show that fatigue is common among flight instructors and is linked to accidents and incidents, especially in general aviation. Long hours, irregular schedules, heavy workloads, and financial pressure are major causes of this fatigue. Students also notice that when instructors are tired, it negatively affects their training. We recommend changes like better scheduling, work-life balance, and fairer pay to reduce instructor fatigue and improve safety and training quality in flight schools

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Photo by Oscar Sutton on Unsplash

Photo by Oscar Sutton on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This study is important because flight instructor fatigue poses a serious risk to both aviation safety and the quality of pilot training. When instructors are tired, their ability to make sound decisions, respond quickly, and maintain focus is compromised, which can lead to accidents or errors during flight instruction. Since flight instructors play a critical role in shaping the skills and safety habits of future pilots, their well-being directly impacts how effectively and safely pilots are trained.