Flight Safety

Originally published in 1999

Common Misconceptions about Fatigue

1. Eight hours of rest are as beneficial as eight hours of sleep.
2.  I know exactly how tired I am.
3. I have lost sleep before, and I did just fine.
4. I’m motivated enough to just push through it.
5. I am a highly experienced and capable pilot (have the “right stuff’) and can still fly an aircraft even if I am tired.
6. I don’t need more than three or four hours of sleep every night.
7. If I’m tired, all I need is a cup of coffee to feel better.
8. There is a quick and easy fix for fatigue.
9. One cure will work for everyone.