Pilot Fatigue and Flight Safety Performance in Commercial Airlines

Pilot fatigue is one of the most pervasive and consequential human factors hazards in commercial aviation worldwide. This study examines the relationship between pilot fatigue and flight safety performance in the context of Nigerian commercial aviation, where domestic short-haul operations, irregular scheduling, and evolving regulatory frameworks create a complex operational environment. Drawing on a quantitative survey of 142 active commercial pilots operating out of Lagos, Abuja, and Kano, combined with a secondary analysis of occurrence reports from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), this research investigates the prevalence, contributing factors, and safety consequences of pilot fatigue. Results indicate that 71.1% of respondents reported operationally significant fatigue on their most recent duty day, while 95.1% reported at least one such episode in the preceding three months, with inadequate rest periods, multiple short-haul flight legs per duty period, and irregular scheduling identified as the primary antecedents. Multiple regression analysis showed associations such that flight legs per duty day (β = 0.41, p < .001), early start frequency (β = 0.33, p < .001), and weekly duty hours (β = 0.29, p = .002) were the strongest operational predictors of fatigue severity (R² = .573 full model). Fatigue-associated occurrences were linked to lapses in situational awareness, procedural deviations, and communication errors in the cockpit. The study recommends accelerated adoption of Fatigue Risk Management Systems (FRMS), strengthened enforcement of Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (NCARs) flight and duty time limitations, and industry-wide fatigue reporting culture improvements. Findings contribute to the growing body of evidence on fatigue in sub-Saharan African aviation contexts and inform policy for regulators and airline operators.