In‐flight sleep, pilot fatigue and Psychomotor Vigilance Task performance on ultra‐long range versus long range flights

Estimated mean total sleep was longer on ultra-long range flights (3 h 53 min) than on long range flights (3 h 15 min).

• Pilot fatigue may be greater on long range trips compared to ultra-long range trips.
• Total sleep in the 24 hours before flights was similar for both ultra-long range and long range flights.
• For each additional hour of flight time, pilots obtained an estimated additional 12.3 minutes of sleep.
• Sleepiness ratings were lower at the end of ultra-long range flights.
• Mean reaction speed was faster at the end of ultra-long range flights.

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