Rostering Features and Impact on Work and Living: Perspectives of Brazilian Airline Pilots

Introduction: Fatigue management is a global concern regarding human factors in civil aviation. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) requires contracting States to establish fatigue regulation within a framework that considers both industry experience and scientific findings. The aim of this study was to explore rostering features and the impact on the balance between work and living conditions from the aircrews´ perspective.

Methods: Fifty-one airline pilots (7 f, mean age 40 years) from four Brazilian airlines voluntarily participated in this study. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted online (Dec 2021-Jun 2022), lasting from one to three hours. Content analysis was performed (Bardin, 2011). The following items were investigated: work schedules – starting and ending times, duty periods, resting times and days-off and fatigue management policies. The study was approved by the Ethical and Research Committee of the School of Public Health from the University of Sao Paulo (CAAE 36370720.9.0000.5421).

Results: Analysis of the interviews revealed the rostering features that affect pilots´ work and social lives. The main positive aspects revolved around the predictability of their daily routines. Knowing in advance the monthly schedule was considered key for organizing personal and work arrangements, especially if the requested days off are granted. The productivity of the schedules was also mentioned as a positive aspect, meaning a good distribution of flights throughout the duty period, without excessive sitting time. With respect to negative aspects, the perceived short resting times between duties (usually 12 hours including hotel transportation), daytime resting between consecutive nighttime duties, the irregularity of working hours and single days-off were the most mentioned. Some other examples were schedules 12x12 (meaning 12-hour duty followed by a 12-hour rest period), reporting at the airport with excessive advance time, frequent aircraft changes and rostering parameters limited to the regulatory prescriptions. Also, in the pilots´ perspective, addressing fatigue management as mainly an individual responsibility, the overreliance on biomathematical models and the complex fatigue reporting procedures in the airlines conflict with best fatigue management approaches.

Conclusion: Irregularity of working times is considered a natural aspect of aircrew lives. Nevertheless, it does impact on circadian and social rhythms and may affect performance at work. The results of this study can help improve fatigue management in aviation and regulatory framework, as it brings real-life data to be considered. Support: FAPESP (ITAPAR 2019/13525–0); CNPq (Productivity grant to FM Fischer number 306963/2021–3); Graduate Program of Public Health (School of Public Health, University of Sao Paulo); National Civil Aviation Agency (Brazil). This study was financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior – Brazil (CAPES) – Finance Code 001.

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Artikel online veröffentlicht:
08. Oktober 2025