The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has issued a safety alert for agricultural pilots that highlights the fatigue risks in combating plague locusts.
With the intensity of agricultural related aviation activity increasing at this time of year with activities such as locust spotting and spraying, the ATSB says it’s important that all aerial work pilots maintain an awareness of the fatal consequences of fatigue.
The ATSB was recently notified of an incident in which a pilot undertaking locust spotting activities needed to be woken by an observer on the aircraft. The pilot reportedly flew part-time and his fatigue may have been related to his other activities as a farmer.
As such, the ATSB says when assessing their potential fatigue levels pilots must take into account all activities they do throughout the day – not just flying.
The ATSB says that not only is fatigue brought on by the amount of flying time and the type of flying pilots are doing, it is also attributable to what they are doing when not flying. If pilots have another job, especially one that requires long hours and involves strenuous activity or long periods of concentration, they’re more prone to fatigue while flying.
Research shows that people often find it difficult to recognise they are fatigued, whether it be short-term (acute) or long-term (chronic) fatigue.
The ATSB safety alert includes a checklist pilots can use to objectively self-assess their fatigue risk prior to flying, as well as offering to tips to counter fatigue.
A Dromader takes off for some agricultural work.
