Fatigue management in aviation
Aviation is internationally regulated for fatigue because of the safety-critical nature of flight operations. In the UK, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) oversees operator compliance with applicable flight time limitations and fatigue management requirements.
Regulatory context
Section titled “Regulatory context”EU-retained and UK aviation rules define flight duty periods, rest requirements, and related limits for many commercial operations. Operators may also implement a fatigue risk management system (FRMS) as a structured approach to managing fatigue beyond prescriptive limits — subject to regulatory approval processes where applicable.
This page does not summarise specific CAA approvals or operator certificates. Consult official CAA publications and your organisation’s approved manuals for authoritative requirements.
Operational considerations
Section titled “Operational considerations”Fatigue in aviation can arise from:
- Time zone crossings and night departures
- Early report times and extended duty sequences
- Commuting to dispersed crew bases
- Disruption, diversions, and standby duties
Principles from shift work fatigue and night shift fatigue apply, adapted to aviation-specific duty structures.
Related pages
Section titled “Related pages”Further research
Section titled “Further research”CAA CAP documents, EASA FTL provisions, and operator FRMS documentation will be linked with appropriate caveats in a future revision.