Activity/Rest Patterns of Instructor and Rates Student Pilots During Rapid Transitions from Daytime to Nighttime Duty Hours at the Eastern Army Aviation Training Site

Abstract

Rapid shifts in work schedules demand that pilots and aircrew quickly adapt to new sleep schedules. Transitions to nighttime duty hours lacking planned work/rest schedules can result in the delay of physiological and cognitive adaptation, fatigue and performance degradation (shift lag). The objective of this study was to determine the effects of a night shift coping strategy in the adaptation of helicopter pilots (UH-1) to nighttime (2100 to 0100) flying schedules. Daily activity/rest rhythms of instructor and rated student pilots (IPs/RSPs) were monitored 24 h per day for a total of 21 to 28 days using individual wrist activity monitors. RSPs (n-6) lived in dormitories with complete blocking of daylight (below 10 lux) and reduced environmental noise until 1000. Meals and academic activities were scheduled to all RSPs the opportunity to sleep until 1000 after night flights. IPs lived in private homes and were expected to meet administrative, academic, and flight instruction demands. Throughout the NVG course, RSPs elected to retire between 0040 and 0200, Shiftwork, Sleep, Flight performance, Night operation to rise at approximately 0900, and to delay morning daylight exposure between 0900 1000. This schedule of activities resulted in an average of 7 h of bedrest under both daytime and nighttime duty schedules. In contrast, IPs exhibited variable rise times, usually occurring between 0700 and 0830 during both daytime and nighttime duty schedules. After night flights, IPs exhibited a delay of bedtime (2 h) but failed to consistently delay rise times.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 01, 1993
Accession Number
ADA267038

Entities

People

  • Carlos A. Comperatore
  • Gerald L. Hess
  • Jacquelyn Y. Pearson
  • James A. Chiaramonte
  • Lewis W. Stone

Organizations

  • United States Army Aeromedical Research Lab

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Air Force Facilities
  • Analysis Of Variance
  • Army Aviation
  • Biological Rhythms
  • Biomedical Research
  • Data Analysis
  • Data Science
  • Daylight
  • Health Services
  • Instructors
  • Medical Personnel
  • Military Research
  • Night Flight
  • Statistical Analysis
  • Students
  • Test And Evaluation

Readers

  • Aviation Science / Aeronautics.
  • Circadian Sleep-Wake Regulation and Chronobiology