Pilot Fatigue – A Study on the Effectiveness of Flight & Duty Time Regulations for Professional Pilots in Canada

This report summarizes the findings of a study conducted in 2016-2017, which analyzed the effectiveness of flight and duty time (FDT) regulations for professional pilots in Canada. With air carriers operating across the world, twentyfour hours a day, 365 days a year, pilots must fly day and night, while being responsible for the lives of their passengers and aircrew. Consequently, federal regulations in Canada govern the maximum FDT a pilot may fly an aircraft (flight time), and be on duty at his or her workplace (duty time). While many Members States of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) have recently modernised their FDT regulations, Canada’s regulatory approach to mitigate pilot fatigue has not been updated since 1996. This study focused on Canadian operators conducting commercial operations under Part VII of the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs) as 702, 703, 704 and 705 operators. It analyzed whether federal laws adequately regulate pilot fatigue and if there are some gaps within the CARs. Because the CARs regulate FDT differently depending on the category of operator, this study also considered potential safety trends with respect to pilot fatigue in various categories of carriers; the effects of standby duty and being awake for extended periods of time; and whether lessexperienced pilots are more vulnerable to pilot fatigue in comparison with more experienced pilots. Five key informants, who worked as professional pilots in Canada, were interviewed in the course of this study to substantiate certain hypotheses. Following these interviews, this report was produced. It focuses on five aspects of FDT regulations in order to understand their positive or adverse impact on pilot fatigue: (1) work schedules; (2) pilot remuneration; (3) fatigue and stress; (4) company safety culture and work environment; and (5) industry issues