http://www.pilotbug.com/?p=595
The NTSB has issued several recommendations in response to the February 13th, 2008 incident involving two go! airline pilots falling asleep and overshooting the airport at Hilo, Hawaii. Among them is to change the medical certificate application to specifically ask if the airman has sleep apnea and to identify high risk individuals.
According to the safety recommendation, studies have concluded that the go! airlines flight, operated by Mesa Airlines, wan not an isolated incident. Information contained in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS) reveled that from 1995 to 2007 there were 17 reported instances of at least one pilot falling asleep and in five of those, both pilots did. In addition, NASA found that 80% of pilots from 26 regional airlines had “nodded off” at one time or another, according to those responding to a 1999 survey.
Concerning the NTSB is the disconnect between the general population prevalence of sleep apnea and the pilot group. It is estimated that 7% of adults suffers from some form of sleep apnea, while only 0.5% of pilots holding a 1st Class medical have indicated to the FAA. One of the contributing factors to the go! airline’s captain falling asleep was his undiagnosed sleep apnea, causing increased daytime fatigue.
Several of the recommendation to the FAA are to:
1. Change the Application for Airman Medical Certificate to ask specific questions regarding sleep apnea.
2. Develop and utilize a program to identify those who may be susceptible to sleep apnea to be evaluated and treated before granting an unrestricted medical certificate.
3. Conduct research on fatigue of short-haul operations.
4. Require short-haul operators to modify operations based on recommendations provided by the research identified by the above recommendation #3.
The NTSB has issued several recommendations in response to the February 13th, 2008 incident involving two go! airline pilots falling asleep and overshooting the airport at Hilo, Hawaii. Among them is to change the medical certificate application to specifically ask if the airman has sleep apnea and to identify high risk individuals.
According to the safety recommendation, studies have concluded that the go! airlines flight, operated by Mesa Airlines, wan not an isolated incident. Information contained in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS) reveled that from 1995 to 2007 there were 17 reported instances of at least one pilot falling asleep and in five of those, both pilots did. In addition, NASA found that 80% of pilots from 26 regional airlines had “nodded off” at one time or another, according to those responding to a 1999 survey.
Concerning the NTSB is the disconnect between the general population prevalence of sleep apnea and the pilot group. It is estimated that 7% of adults suffers from some form of sleep apnea, while only 0.5% of pilots holding a 1st Class medical have indicated to the FAA. One of the contributing factors to the go! airline’s captain falling asleep was his undiagnosed sleep apnea, causing increased daytime fatigue.
Several of the recommendation to the FAA are to:
1. Change the Application for Airman Medical Certificate to ask specific questions regarding sleep apnea.
2. Develop and utilize a program to identify those who may be susceptible to sleep apnea to be evaluated and treated before granting an unrestricted medical certificate.
3. Conduct research on fatigue of short-haul operations.
4. Require short-haul operators to modify operations based on recommendations provided by the research identified by the above recommendation #3.