Barbara Selby 
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.                                              
April 21, 1994
(Phone:  202/358-1983)

Michael Mewhinney
Ames Research Center, Mountain View, Calif.
(Phone:  415/604-9000)


RELEAS:  94-64

NASA PROVIDES PILOT FATIGUE COUNTERMEASURES TRAINING

   Responding to growing concerns about aviation safety, NASA 
scientists have developed a training course that teaches pilots 
how to combat the adverse effects of fatigue.

   A workshop entitled "Alertness Management in Flight 
Operation" will take place at NASA's Ames Research Center, 
Mountain View, Calif., May 18-19.  Additional workshops will be 
conducted in August and December.

   Developed by the Ames Fatigue Countermeasures Program, the 
training covers such topics as sleep, circadian rhythms, 
effects of fatigue on performance and NASA fatigue studies.  
The training addresses misconceptions about fatigue and 
recommends ways to offset it.

   "The idea is to bring industry people together to talk about 
fatigue, sleep deprivation and circadian disruption," said Dr. 
Mark Rosekind, an Ames research psychologist and team leader of 
Ames' Fatigue Countermeasures Program.  "They then can take the 
information back to their own organizations.  It's a great 
example of technology transfer."

   NASA began studying pilot fatigue in1980 after data obtained 
from the Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS) -- a program 
established in 1975 and administered by NASA in collaboration 
with the Federal Aviation Administration -- revealed concerns 
about the issue.  

   "The ASRS receives many reports from pilots of commuter 
aircraft alleging that fatigue induced by long duty schedules, 
compounded by inadequate rest, is often a primary factor in 
aviation safety incidents," said William Reynard, ASRS 
Director.
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   "When the program started in 1980, there was little 
information available about the physiology of sleep deprivation 
and pilot fatigue," said Rosekind.  "We've learned enough now 
to give people concrete information about the physiological 
factors associated with sleep loss and circadian disruption 
that underlie fatigue."

   American Airlines sent 14 employees to the program's first 
workshop in February.  Both American and Northwest airlines now 
provide required fatigue countermeasures training for all of 
their flight crews.  Several other airlines and United Parcel 
Service are considering offering the fatigue training.
                             -end-
EDITORS NOTE:

   Reporters interested in attending the May 18-19 workshop 
should contact Mike Mewhinney at NASA Ames Research Center, 
Mountain View, Calif. (415/604-9000).