European Cockpit Association

'Half of aircraft pilots fall asleep at the controls'

London: One-in-three airline pilots have fallen asleep at the controls of jetliners carrying hundreds of passengers, a new study has claimed. The research carried out in Austria, Sweden, Germany and Denmark, found that four out of five pilots have to cope with fatigue while in the cockpit.

The European Cockpit Association (ECA), which represents pilots, published its chilling findings after surveys carried out by national unions, found that large numbers of pilots are half-asleep - or not even awake - while at the controls of a plane, the 'Daily Mail' reported.

Between 43 and 54 per cent of pilots surveyed in the UK, Norway and Sweden said they had already fallen asleep 'involuntarily' while flying - and a third of these pilots found their colleagues were also asleep when they woke up.

More than three out of five pilots in Sweden, Norway and Denmark reported making mistakes due to fatigue, while in Germany, this figure was four out of five....more    

Half of aircraft pilots fall asleep at the controls: Study

London: One-in-three airline pilots have fallen asleep at the controls of jetliners carrying hundreds of passengers, a new study has claimed. The research carried out in Austria, Sweden, Germany and Denmark, found that four out of five pilots have to cope with fatigue while in the cockpit. The European Cockpit Association (ECA), which represents pilots, published its chilling findings after surveys carried out by national unions, found that large numbers...