In a previous post, I suggested that you establish a clean cockpit before taking off, just as airline pilots do, by getting rid of all potential distractions. This is a good strategy, but it does not protect you against all dangers, and specially not against fatigue.

As private pilots we’re generally enthusiatic about flying, and very busy on a professional activity (all the lucky wealthy and inactive ones…). This lead to sometimes flying after a hard day at work, or a short night, and fatigue will become a key factor in flight safety.

The risk there is not really to get alseep while flying, I hope we’re all sensible enough not to start a flight under such conditions. The big risk is more in the slower reaction time, and the kind of phases where the brain just seems to stop working, and you become just a spectator.

I made once a simple experience, while I was still training towards my PPL. I had to work at night for some particular reasons, and I had a flight sessions planned immediately after that. I slept approximately from 3am to 6am, and flew with my instructor arround 9am… I warned him so he knew the exact situation… and it was just catastrophic. I forgot easy checks, (flaps retraction after take-off), I made incorrect power settings (descent power while turning downwind), I forgot some radio calls, or asked for so many confirmations.

During one approach, I was high and slow, but I remained reaction less. I was perfectly analysing the situation, but I felt quite detached and lazy, and I just let the situation go on… until my instructor finally reacted !

This is something I recommend you experience by yourself, but with a safety pilot on board. An instructor is not needed, but at least someone that can land and operate the plane safely ! This lesson is worth a few circuits !

Normally I try to propose solutions to the problems I expose in this category, but this one will be an exception. There is nothing that can compense for fatigue. Coffee is just an illusion, and it will make you nervous.

The only way to manage fatigue as a single pilot is to remain on ground. Whatever the reason was for the flight, it’s certainly not worth an accident !