Fatigue Countermeasures Program

NASA Ames Research Center began the Fatigue Countermeasures pro­gram in the 1980s in response to a congressional request to determine if there existed a safety problem "due to transmeridian flying and a poten­tial problem due to fatigue in association with various factors found in air transport operations.”[382] Originally termed the NASA Ames Fatigue/ Jet Lag program, this ongoing program, jointly funded by the FAA, was created to study such issues as fatigue, sleep, flight operations perfor­mance, and the biological clock—otherwise known as circadian rhythms. This research was focused on (1) determining the level of fatigue, sleep loss, and circadian rhythm disruption that exists during flight opera­tions, (2) finding out how these factors affect crew performance, and (3) developing ways to counteract these factors to improve crew alert­ness and proficiency. Many of the findings from this series of field stud­ies, which included such fatigue countermeasures as regular flightcrew naps, breaks, and better scheduling practices, were subsequently adopted by the airlines and the military.[383] This research also resulted in Federal Aviation Regulations that are still in effect, which specify the amount of rest flightcrews must have during a 24-hour period.[384]