Assignment 9.4: Research Proposal
Abstract
For many years, the issue of fatigue to pilots has been a real issue. It is notable that the pilots, corporate and charter Pilots are susceptible to fatigue during the line of work. Though it can be a common problem. It poses a threat to the safety of the aviation sector. In respect to this, this study seeks to evaluate on the common causes of fatigue to the pilots, the nature in which the fatigue is an issue to the decision making of the aircraft and the appropriate prevention methods for curbing fatigue. A proposed model of study has been developed with the intention of analyzing the issue at hand deeply.
Background Information
Fatigue is a common aspect and phenomenon. People have suffered fatigue in different magnitude in varying context. It is notable that for an average person, fatigue presents a minor issue in the convenience. It is resolved with stopping the activity that has brought it on. However, if a person is in a situation that presents a safety hazard, then the issue must be considered with a lot emphasis. As depicted, it is a major issue of concern for the pilots, due to the magnitude of implication it has on the safety of the aircraft. In the actual sense, the issue is not only a concern for the pilots considering that even other professionals working in other sectors are also victims of the same issue. Pasztor (2008) denotes that the fatigue is an accumulation of tiredness derived from the working of complex systems. The medicine, transport and nuclear industries are other industries where fatigue is common considering the nature of the work involved. In the flight context, the fatigue aspect derives attention considering the impact that can result. Arnoult (2009) illustrates that the error that can be caused by the fatigue in the process of work can result in dramatic consequences.
Pilot fatigue has been a real menace since the onset of the air travels. Developing issues such as sleep have been demonstrated in various instances of the flights (Powell et al., 2008). Even in some of the situations, the pilots have been reported to have slept on the controls. In other cases, they make misjudged decisions that, in one or another, affect the whole operation of the flight.
With all the aspects being issues of dire consideration, it is then appropriate to explore on various issues that revolve around the issue of fatigue to the pilots. In this particular proposed study, the main rationale is to explore deeply on the whole issue. The study is investigative with the intention to provide answers to the problems that are associated with the Pilots fatigue. It with an understanding of the whole issues and aspects, lasting solutions and measures can be established.
Research Questions
In order to fulfil the research aims, the study seeks to adopt various research questions. The study aim is hence achieved when the definitive answers shall be provided. In pursuant to this study, the following research questions that shall be utilized in the process are as follows;
- What is the major cause of fatigue among the pilot?
- What is the impact of the fatigue to the decision making an aspect of the pilots?
- What are the main strategic actions that are done to combat fatigue?
- What is the effective capacity of the integrated programs in managing of the fatigue?
Research Hypothesis
The research hypothesis is utilized in a study so as to provide a direction. The study hence acts to identify whether the hypothesis is true or not. At the end of the research, it can hence be identified whether the hypothesis is null or positive. In this study, various research hypothesis has been utilized.
The following research hypothesis shall be utilized in the study;
- The tight schedules of the low-cost airlines are the major causes of fatigue to the pilots.
- The fatigue is a major issue in the aerospace and contributes heavily to the decision-making process and can be attributed to the aircraft accidents.
- The management failure has also contributed to the fatigue menace.
- An integrated program that seeks to address the appropriate requirement of the operational environment of the aircraft is a necessity in addressing the issues that revolve around the issue of the fatigue among the pilots.
Contribution of the study to the field of knowledge
It is evident from the literature review on issues of fatigue, there is less information on the aspect of management of fatigue for pilots. In the actual sense, there is limited information on the structured model of management of fatigue. The main issue of consideration of this proposed study is hence the development of a model that shall be useful in evaluation and determination of the right actions towards the fatigue management (Powell et al., 2008). On the practical aspect, the contribution of this study shall provide a diagnosis of the activities that lead to fatigue and the best way to ensure that the chances of occurrence of the fatigue among the pilots are thus minimized.
2.0 Literature Review
Many scholarly articles have provided information on a limited capacity on fatigue to the pilots. The information provided by the authors is crucial in identifying various aspects that are crucial in the conduction of this study. The main issues presented in the literature review are as follows;
Causes of fatigue
Defining the causes of fatigue is extremely difficult, particularly due to the magnitude and the variability of the causes. Hall (2013) denotes that the causes of fatigue range from simple boredom to rhythm disruption. Since it refers to the general aspect of weariness, the more accurate statement that defines that is increased discomfort that results to reduced capacity for work, reduced efficiency and reduced efficiency of accomplishment. In line to the pilots, Beebe (2009) explains that it is worth to note that the pilots develop fatigue due to higher work load and complexity of their job. The sentiments provide correlates with the European Safety Agency study, which is a survey for fatigue among the pilots (Lenckus, 2010). The main findings of this research were that the risk of accident due to fatigue is a factor that is multiplied by 1.7 between the range of 10 and 12 hours. It is also multiplied by 5.5, with 13 activities that are considered to be beyond the reach and reasonable human limits (Pasztor, 2008). The survey hence pointed out that there is a various factor that makes the pilots be easy targets of fatigue. Among the issues presented is the high number of hours of the continuous flight, stress generated by the high workload and interchanging night and day shifts.
On his side, Beebe (2009) depicts that the continuous experience with some of these aspects is the leading contributor the generation of fatigue. For instance, when one fails to sleep comfortably for a period of time, the fatigue is likely to pile up for a period of more than a week, which can be disastrous. The persistent conditions hence lead to difficulty concentration, apathy, annoyance, memory problems and slower mental functionality and increased errors in the conduction of tasks.
Prevention of fatigue
Hall (2013) identifies the process of prevention of fatigue as crucial. Though no person is immune, establishing the right and appropriate preventive measures to combat fatigue is hence recommendable. The dream and zeal are crucial in the process of preventing it. It is a matter of fact that the pilots are recommended to have a rest period during the long-haul flights (Goode, 2003). The FAA has recommended creating a minimal chance of hours of rest before the service period. This is an increase in the one-hour regulation, which is the recommendable one. It is worth noting that the proposed rule is set to establish new methods for the measuring the rest period of a pilot with the intention of having at least eight hours rest. Since cumulative fatigue is common, Beebe (2009) argues that it can be addressed by placing the weekly and 28 days limit to the time that can be assigned to a pilot any given moment. In this case, the pilots would also be required to give no less than 30 back to back hours free of any obligation on a week after a week premise (Preston, 2007). The implementation of the policy that outlines necessity of the aerial shuttles have a management plan fatigue.
In response to the new rules, the airlines have added pilots, enlisted reserve pilots, improved the scheduling plan while also maintaining journal reports. As the FAA outlines, it is the role and responsibility of the pilot to make sure they get enough rest (Lenckus, 2010). Though the short haul pilots report fatigue problems, this can be solely attributed to the schedules of the low-cost airlines. The discrete times associated with the fatigue are a major contribution factor. However, the main issues of consideration and questions that present in this case are how the rules are followed and implemented by the FAA. The problems on the adherence of the pilots to the stipulated rules are yet to be addressed. It is vital to establish these issues in the proposed study.
Management Operations and Management systems
In order to determine the human factors contribution to this fatigue, the management systems on the operation lead to the human errors. Goode (2003) identifies that a management system forms the principle aspect in a demonstration of a structured model that intends to solve the fatigue menace. An effective system is incorporated by combining the decision-making software with management and organization (Hall, 2013). The method is crucial in the demonstration of the key features from a diverse set of variables. The system has been important in establishing a visualization aspect in safety management. The introduced concept has so far offered the best towards strategy and policies formulation. The issues of consideration in this aspect are the nature in which the management impacts the reduction of fatigue cases. In order to ensure that it achieves the speculated objective one has to determine the specific aspects that management should focus on.
3.0 Research Methodology
A research methodology acts to show how the information for the research shall be conducted. A purposive research study must be designed accordingly to ensure collection of information in the right way. In this particular study, a methodology that ensures collection of useful information to be utilized in the study shall be followed.
Research Design
The research designs that shall be utilized in this particular study is a mixed method approach. In this design, incorporation of both the quantitative and qualitative analysis is done (Creswell, 2013). The rationale for adopting this approach is to make sure that the information is obtained from diverse perspectives. The qualitative aspect of the research shall incorporate the explorative data on the causes of fatigue and the prevention measures that can be adopted to ensure that the fatigue problem is curbed. The quantitative aspect shall be utilized on the other hand to ensure that the numeric information is used to extract crucial information. This shall be applied in cases to obtain, for instance, the number of accidents occurred due to fatigue.
Data collection
In this case, the primary and secondary sources of information shall be utilized. For the primary information, first-hand information shall be extracted from the population sample, who in this case applies to the specialists that work at the airports. The rationale for selection of this sample is because they have the knowledge and information to identify the common effects witnessed due to fatigue. The population can also identify the possible solution to this problem.
The data collection methods shall be surveys, interviews and questionnaires. The questionnaires to be applied are open structured, enabling the platform for diverse knowledge (Creswell, 2013). Secondary data sources shall include article, magazines and journals that have been published solely on the issue of fatigue of the pilots. A literature review shall be conducted on this issue so as to ensure that the information is harmonized.
Data Analysis
Data analysis is crucial in the synthesis of information. In this study, both thematic and statistical analysis shall be used. It is worth to note that the deployment of both situations shall provide the relevant analysis needed in the study (Creswell, 2013). The thematic analysis shall be used to analyze the primary data, where the information shall be classified based on the theme of content (Boyatzis, 2008). The quantitative information shall be analyzed using the statistical analysis such as measures of central tendency. The information shall be later presented using various graphical presentations.
Reliability and Validity
In a research study, the reliability and validity are issues raised with the purpose of making the information is objective. The reliability of this study is enhanced through the aspect of combining the both aspects of qualitative and quantitative data methods (Creswell, 2013). The integration of the both aspect ensures that the data is comprehensive. In the same aspect, the secondary sources that have been utilized are approved and updated to ensure they align with the current issues. On the other hand, the validity of the research has been enhanced by increasing the sample size and use of random samples. The samples selection method ensures that the information is free from the biasness. A big research sample acts to ensure that the information is precise.
Discussion and Interpretation issues
It is worth noting that the results that shall be obtained in this specific study shall be vital in validation and nullification of the stated hypothesis. With the identification of the causes of the fatigue to the pilots, one shall be able to accurately determine the real causes that have dominated in the aircraft. Moreover, the prevention mechanism that is appropriate to curb and reduce the cases of fatigue shall also be determined in the process. With that, it shall then be identified the best measures and management systems to be implemented to manage the fatigue issue.
References
Arnoult, S. (2009). The Problem That Won’t Go Away. Air Transport World, 46(8), 26-27,30-31.
Boyatzis, R. E. (2008). Transforming qualitative information: Thematic analysis and code development. sage.
Creswell, J. W. (2013). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods \approaches. Sage publications.
Goode, J. H. (2003). Are pilots at risk of accidents due to fatigue?. Journal of safety research, 34(3), 309-313.
Lenckus, D. (2010). FAA Pushes Back Deadline to Update Pilot Fatigue Rules. Business Insurance, 44(4), 13
Powell, D., Spencer, M. B., Holland, D., & Petrie, K. J. (2008). Fatigue in two-pilot operations: implications for flight and duty time limitations. Aviation, space, and environmental medicine, 79(11), 1047-1050.
Education, D., Board, T. and Integration, B. (2011). Issues in Commuting and Pilot Fatigue. Washington: National Academies Press.
Preston, F. (2007). Measurement of Pilot Fatigue. Occupational Medicine, 17(2), pp.52-56.
Pasztor, A., & Carey, S. (2008, Sep 12). Pilot Fatigue Spurs Calls for New Safeguards. Wall Street Journal
Beebe, M. (2009, May 11). Fatigue by Pilots Is at Issue in Probe. McClatchy – Tribune Business News
Hall, J., & Sullenberger, C. (2013, Oct 07). A Tired Pilot Is a Tired Pilot, Regardless of The Plane. Wall Street Journal
