More than half of surveyed pilots have flown while tired, while over three-quarters experienced at least one episode of involuntary sleep in the cockpit during the previous four weeks, according to a new survey by the European Cockpit Association (ECA).

The findings have renewed concerns about fatigue management in the aviation industry, particularly as pilots face difficulties reporting exhaustion because of fears about management reactions, possible career consequences and a lack of confidence in existing reporting procedures.

The survey, conducted by aviation consultancy Baines Simmons, collected responses from 7,200 pilots across 32 countries. It examined pilots’ experiences of fatigue, the effectiveness of reporting systems and the extent to which airlines address the risks associated with insufficient rest.

According to the findings, more than half of respondents said they had operated at least one flight during the previous three months when, in retrospect, they believed they should have declared themselves unfit to fly because of fatigue.

The ECA identified several warning signs associated with exhaustion in the cockpit, including head nodding, difficulty keeping the eyes open, reduced alertness and microsleeps. These are brief, involuntary episodes of sleep that can occur when a person struggles to remain awake.

The results raise questions about whether existing fatigue-management arrangements adequately protect flight crews and ensure that pilots can report when they are not fit to operate an aircraft.

Fear of Management Reactions Discourages Fatigue Reporting

The survey identified concerns about workplace consequences as a major reason pilots hesitate to declare themselves unfit for duty.

Approximately 47 per cent of respondents said they were worried about how management would react if they reported fatigue. Another 44 per cent said they did not want to draw attention to themselves, while 35 per cent were reluctant to cause inconvenience to their employers.

These concerns can discourage pilots from using reporting systems intended to protect aviation safety. When crew members feel pressure to continue working despite exhaustion, the risks associated with fatigue may remain unreported.

“When pilots fear career consequences, fatigue goes unreported and the risk returns to the cockpit,” said European Cockpit Association Board Director Captain Coen George.

The findings suggest that the availability of formal reporting procedures does not necessarily mean pilots feel comfortable using them. Workplace culture, management attitudes and confidence that reports will lead to meaningful action can influence whether crew members disclose fatigue-related concerns.

Only 12% of Pilots Trust Fatigue Reporting Systems

Although most respondents understood how to report fatigue, confidence in the systems remained low.

The survey found that 82 per cent of pilots knew how to submit a fatigue report. However, only 12 per cent said they trusted their airline’s reporting system, while just 11 per cent reported that fatigue submissions had resulted in operational changes intended to improve safety.

Half of those surveyed considered fatigue risks at their airlines to be poorly managed or not managed at all.

The results highlight a gap between awareness of reporting procedures and confidence in their effectiveness. For reporting systems to support safety, pilots need to believe that their concerns will be taken seriously and that reporting fatigue will not expose them to unfair treatment.

The ECA’s findings also point to the importance of addressing the underlying working conditions that contribute to exhaustion rather than relying exclusively on individual pilots to recognise and report the problem.

Long Working Hours and Insufficient Rest Contribute to Fatigue

Pilot fatigue can develop for several reasons, including acute sleep deprivation, lengthy or demanding flight-duty periods and repeated periods of inadequate recovery between assignments.

The survey draws particular attention to cumulative fatigue, which develops when insufficient rest continues over time. Unlike the immediate effects of a single night of poor sleep, accumulated exhaustion can be more difficult for individuals to recognise before it affects their performance.

Fatigue can reduce alertness and make it harder for pilots to remain attentive during flight operations. The concern is particularly significant when exhaustion develops gradually and crew members underestimate the extent to which their performance may be affected.

The findings indicate that fatigue remains an important operational issue for airlines, requiring effective scheduling, adequate rest periods and working environments in which pilots can report that they are unfit for duty without fear of reprimand.

European Aviation Safety Agency Has Already Identified the Problem

Pilot fatigue has been recognised as a persistent aviation safety concern by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

In a report published in June 2026, the agency identified aircrew fatigue among the most consistent and prominent safety issues facing the sector.

EASA linked the problem to several operational and socioeconomic factors, including flight scheduling, short-notice changes to rosters and the use of commanders’ discretion to extend flight-duty periods beyond their scheduled limits.

Such factors can make it more difficult for pilots to obtain sufficient rest, particularly when changes to working arrangements disrupt planned recovery periods.

The agency called for targeted safety initiatives to improve awareness and the quality of fatigue reporting. It also emphasised the need for workplace cultures in which aviation personnel can declare themselves too tired to work without fearing disciplinary action.

The latest ECA survey reinforces the importance of these measures, with its findings indicating that many pilots continue to experience fatigue while having limited confidence in the systems designed to address it.

Airlines Face Questions Over Fatigue Management

The survey places renewed attention on the responsibilities of airlines in managing crew fatigue and ensuring that reporting arrangements operate effectively.

While pilots are responsible for recognising when they are not fit to fly, the findings suggest that individual decisions cannot be separated from working conditions, management practices and the availability of adequate rest.

The low level of confidence in reporting systems raises questions about whether pilots believe their submissions will result in practical changes. The fact that only 11 per cent reported operational improvements following fatigue submissions highlights the need to examine how airlines respond to concerns raised by their crews.

Effective fatigue management requires more than providing employees with instructions on submitting reports. It also involves identifying recurring risks, reviewing flight schedules, ensuring sufficient recovery time and addressing circumstances that discourage personnel from reporting exhaustion.

The ECA survey does not, by itself, establish that fatigue has caused specific aviation accidents or measure the overall safety performance of individual airlines. However, the reported experiences demonstrate why fatigue management remains an important issue for aviation operators and regulators.

The findings underline the need for a reporting culture that allows pilots to raise concerns openly and for procedures that translate those concerns into meaningful safety measures.