Three in four European pilots report microsleeps in the cockpit

More than three in four European airline pilots say they had at least one microsleep while flying in the previous four weeks, according to a new survey published by the European Cockpit Association (ECA).

The survey of 7,200 pilots in 32 countries, carried out over the summer and analysed by the consultancy Baines Simmons, found 76.8% had experienced a microsleep. That is barely changed from 75% in the last survey in 2023. The ECA says almost none of the measures it tracks have improved since then.

Around 39% of pilots said they usually or always lacked enough rest to prevent cumulative fatigue. Just over a third said they report when they are unfit or fatigued, while almost a quarter said they don’t report it and fly anyway. Fear of punishment remains a barrier: 69% worried about the consequences of refusing to extend a duty beyond its normal limit, a decision formally left to the captain.

The ECA wants airlines and authorities to guarantee that fatigue reporting is genuinely non-punitive. The findings come as the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) considers possible changes to flight time limitation rules.