Fatigue and Flying
FAA Report on Fatigue - Read First
I experienced this when I attempted to take off from Denver Stapelton Airport, a number of years ago, in a Beechcraft Bonanza after a "trying day" filled with traffic delays, missed appointments and general disappointment with the tremendous growth in the Colorado Springs - Denver corridor. My plane just seemed very under-powered as it sluggishly plowed down the runway. Opps! I came from Michigan to Colorado. Altitude change - and I forgot to properly lean out the mixtureon the engine before takeoff. Fatigue! You better believe it!
It could have been far worse. Fear, anxiety, emotional strain, noise, high altitude, boredom and immobility can all cause a decrease in standards of performance, faulty memory, impaired judgement, slower reaction time and an increased susceptibility to visual illusions and hallucinations.
Even while driving long distances, in a car, a break now and then, can ward off fatigue. Other things a pilot can do to prevent fatigue is get a good night's sleep or plenty of rest before flying. Don't use alcohol, medication or drugs within 24 hours of a flight. Yes, I am a 24 hour man! I drink Joe, as you know, and it helps increase your attention. Wearing earplugs can reduce fatigue from noise.
You need, as a pilot, to recognize that a wandering mind, snappish attitude and loss of your sense of humor are symptoms of fatigue. Difficulty concentrating, inattentive to small details or you skip routine pre-flight or inflight checks are also signs of fatique.
Coffee, cold air, stretching or eating a candy bar to raise blood sugar can help. Fatigue can creep up on you. If you can't shake fatigue - land! Common sense about the dangers of fatigue carry over from the Highway to the Skyway. Don't become a fatality statistic.
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