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 7,200 European pilots found that over three-quarters (77%) reported experiencing "microsleeps" on duty within the previous four weeks, indicating widespread pilot fatigue.
The survey revealed a persistent problem with no meaningful improvement since 2023 regarding insufficient pilot rest and extending flight duties beyond legal maximums.
A significant portion of pilots do not report fatigue due to a "fear factor," fearing punishment or negative consequences for refusing duty extensions, which undermines safety culture.
The European Cockpit Association (ECA) is advocating for stronger, non-punitive fatigue-risk management and reporting systems, while EASA has proposed new flight time limitations to address these issues.

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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.