A survey by pilots union Vereinigung Cockpit of over 900 German pilots, including 64 from Ryanair, found 93pc admitted to napping during flights due to fatigue.
Reasons include tight schedules, staff shortages, and operational pressure, with 12pc napping every flight and 44pc regularly. Napping, described as controlled rest, occurs on 44pc of short-haul and 56pc of long-haul flights, not during takeoff or landing.
Katharina Dieseldorf VP of Vereinigung Cockpit Dieseldorff noted that napping has become a norm in German cockpits as a remedy for structural overload.
The union demands airlines adopt a science-based Fatigue Risk Management System to address chronic exhaustion.
Katharina Dieseldorf VP of Vereinigung Cockpit shared: “Pilots report to us that they complete their missions despite being extremely fatigued. The reasons they gave us are tight schedules, staff shortages and increasing operational pressure. Napping has long been the norm in German cockpits. What was originally intended as a short-term recovery measure has developed into a permanent remedy for structural overload. A short nap is not critical in itself. However, a permanently exhausted cockpit crew poses a significant risk.”
