Non-technical skills evaluation in the critical care air ambulance environment: introduction of an adapted rating instrument--an observational study.

Background: In the isolated and dynamic health-care setting of critical care air ambulance transport, the quality of clinical care is strongly influenced by non-technical skills such as anticipating, recognising and understanding, decision making, and teamwork. However there are no published reports identifying or applying a non-technical skills framework specific to an intensive care air ambulance setting. The objective of this study was to adapt and evaluate a non-technical skills rating framework for the air ambulance clinical environment.

Comparison of in-flight measures with predictions of a bio-mathematical fatigue model.

Introduction: Bio-mathematical models are increasingly used for predicting fatigue in airline operations, and have been proposed as a possible component of fatigue risk management systems (FRMS). There is a need to continue to evaluate fatigue models against data collected from crews conducting commercial flight operations.

Methods: A comparison was made between several in-flight studies of pilot fatigue, conducted over a 10-yr period on a variety of operations, and the predictions of a widely used bio-mathematical model, the System for Aircrew Fatigue Evaluation (SAFE).

Fatigue in Air Medical Clinicians Undertaking High-acuity Patient Transports.

Abstract Background. Fatigue is likely to be a significant issue for air medical transport clinicians due to the challenging nature of their work, but there is little published evidence for this. Objective.

The occupational health and safety of flight attendants.

In order to perform safety-critical roles in emergency situations, flight attendants should meet minimum health standards and not be impaired by factors such as fatigue. In addition, the unique occupational and environmental characteristics of flight attendant employment may have consequential occupational health and safety implications, including radiation exposure, cancer, mental ill-health, musculoskeletal injury, reproductive disorders, and symptoms from cabin air contamination. The respective roles of governments and employers in managing these are controversial.

Symptom-based categorization of in-flight passenger medical incidents.

Introduction: The majority of in-flight passenger medical events are managed by cabin crew. Our study aimed to evaluate the reliability of cabin crew reports of in-flight medical events and to develop a symptom-based categorization system.

Methods: All cabin crew in-flight passenger medical incident reports for an airline over a 9-yr period were examined retrospectively.

Automated collection of fatigue ratings at the top of descent: a practical commercial airline tool.

Introduction: There is a need to develop an efficient and accurate way of assessing pilot fatigue in commercial airline operations. We investigated the validity of an automated system to collect pilot ratings of alertness at the top of descent, comparing the data obtained with existing results from previous studies and those predicted by the validated SAFE fatigue model.

Methods: Boeing 777 pilots were prompted to enter a Samn-Perelli fatigue scale rating directly into the flight management system of the aircraft shortly prior to descent on a variety of short- and long-haul commercial flights.

Fatigue in airline pilots after an additional day's layover period.

Introduction: We investigated the effect of an additional day's layover on reducing fatigue in two different duties: a two-pilot crew flying between Auckland and Brisbane, and a three-pilot crew flying between Auckland and Los Angeles.

Methods: Pilots completed a reaction time task, the Samn-Perelli fatigue scale, and the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale on both outward and return flights. The flights were conducted with and without a 1-d layover (Brisbane) and with a 1- or 2-d layover (Los Angeles).

Pilot fatigue in short-haul operations: effects of number of sectors, duty length, and time of day.

Introduction: There is little research on what factors are associated with fatigue in short-haul pilots. The aim was to investigate how length of duty, number of sectors, time of day, and departure airport affect fatigue levels in short-haul operations.

Methods: Pilots completed Samn-Perelli fatigue ratings prior to descent at the end of each rostered short-haul duty over a 12-wk period.