Survey: 3 in 4 European Pilots Report Sleeping on Duty

European Cockpit Association survey finds challenges in managing fatigue-related safety risks.

Jack Daleo

Thursday, October 29, 2026 at 08:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

The European Cockpit Association urges stronger fatigue-risk management, reporting systems, and protections for pilots who report exhaustion. [Credit: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

A recent survey of over 7,200 European pilots revealed that more than 75% experienced "microsleeps" on duty in the past month, with many also reporting insufficient rest, indicating a persistent and widespread pilot fatigue problem.
A significant "fear factor" prevents pilots from reporting fatigue due to concerns about punishment or negative consequences, often leading them to fly while fatigued and feel pressured to extend duties beyond legal limits.
The European Cockpit Association (ECA) is calling for stronger fatigue-risk management, genuinely non-punitive reporting systems, and increased protections for pilots, while EASA has proposed new flight time limitations to address these critical safety risks.

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A report published this week found that more than 3 in 4 pilots reported falling asleep on duty at least once in the four weeks before being surveyed.

Some 7,200 European pilots responded to the survey, which was conducted by aviation consultancy Baines Simmons on behalf of the European Cockpit Association (ECA). More than three-quarters of them reported that while operating an aircraft, they experienced “microsleeps,” which are typically defined as sleep episodes lasting a few seconds.