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Crew member fatigue is now acknowledged as a hazard that predictably degrades various types of human performance and can contribute to aviation accidents and incidents. Fatigue is inevitable in 24/7 operations because the human brain and body function optimally with unrestricted sleep at night. Therefore, as fatigue cannot be eliminated, it must be managed.
Fatigue management refers to the methods by which Operators and operational personnel address the safety implications of fatigue. In general, the ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) support two distinct approaches for fatigue management: a prescriptive approach and a performance-based approach.
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Prescriptive approach
In the prescriptive fatigue management approach, operations must remain within prescribed limits established by the regulator for flight time, flight duty periods, duty periods and rest periods. In addition, an operator should manage fatigue hazards using the SMS processes that are in place for managing other types of hazards.
Performance-based regulatory approach
The operator develops and implements a Fatigue Risk Management System (FRMS) that is approved by the regulator. An FRMS allows an operator to adapt policies, procedures and practices to the specific conditions that create fatigue in a particular aviation setting. Operators may tailor their FRMS to unique operational demands and focus on fatigue mitigation strategies that are within their specific operational environment.
There is no “off-the-shelf” version of an FRMS, each operator will need to develop an FRMS appropriate to its organizational and operational specificity and the nature and level of the fatigue risk(s).
Implementing Fatigue Management Strategies
To support Operators implement fatigue management strategies and FRMS, the IATA Fatigue Management Task Force (FMTF) has developed the following documents:
- Common Protocol for Minimum Data Collection Variables in Aviation Ops (pdf)
- Fatigue SPIs: A Key Component of Proactive Fatigue Hazard Identification (pdf)
- IATA FRMS White Paper (pdf)
- IATA FRMS Condensed Version of CASA Document on Biomathematical Models (pdf)
- IATA FMTF White Paper on Uses and Limitations of Biomathematical Fatigue Models (pdf)
Implementation guide for operators
The Fatigue Management Guide for Airline Operations marks the collaboration between IATA, ICAO and the International Federation of Airline Pilots’ Associations (IFALPA) to jointly lead and serve industry in the ongoing development of fatigue management, using the most current science. It presents the common approach of pilots, regulators and operators to the complex issue of fatigue.
For more information, please contact FRMS@iata.org