TSA
Needs Former America West Volunteers for FAA
Fatigue Study
In 2009, the FAA
began a second more comprehensive Flight
Attendant Fatigue Study. Based upon the
recommendations of the first study this second
"field study" is being conducted to explore
the physiological and psychological effects of
fatigue, sleepiness, circadian factors and
rest schedules on flight attendants' ability
to perform duties. AFA posted information on
our website and your MECs also sent email
blasts out to your members on the need for
volunteers for this study.
The FAA is looking for
additional volunteers specifically from the
former America West (now US Airways) as
categorized as a low cost airline. To comply
with the requirements of the study the FAA
needs a certain number of flight attendants
from different airline categories and they do
not have enough volunteers in the low cost
category. Below is a letter from the FAA
requesting additional volunteers for this
study.
Please take the time to participate in this
very important study that may affect our
careers in the future.
Flight
Attendant Work/Rest Patterns,
Alertness, and Performance
Assessment
Dear Flight Attendant,
The U.S. Congress and the President have
directed the FAA Civil Aerospace Medical
Institute (CAMI) in Oklahoma City to conduct
research concerning fatigue among U. S. flight
attendants. To this end, the FAA, in
cooperation with the Institutes for Behavior
Resources (IBR), is conducting a Field Study
on activity, sleep, and mental fatigue
experienced by US flight attendants.
Initially, we sought 210 volunteers for this
multi-week study. To date, 124 volunteers
have completed the study. Our request at this
time is for an additional 86 volunteers, with
a majority needed from low-cost carriers.
-
Participants must be
active flight attendants.
-
Participants will wear
a wristwatch-shaped device on their
non-dominant wrist (records activity and
sleep) throughout the study, and a pedometer
on their ankle (measures number of steps
taken) when working.
-
Using a portable
handheld electronic device (a PDA),
participants will complete an activity log
and various self-report questionnaires and
reaction time assessments every day (work
and non-work days) throughout the study.
-
Total time spent on the
study is about 1-2 hrs per day, broken up
across several ~15 min logbook/task sessions
throughout each day.
-
All data will be kept
confidential by IBR and will not be
personally identifiable to the participants’
employers or officials from the FAA.
-
Participants may
receive up to $400 upon completion of
the study and safe return of the research
equipment.
If you are
interested in participating, volunteers may do
so online at:
http://www.xyant.com/FAFieldStudy.htm
The website explains how the study is
conducted, requests information about the type
of trips you typically fly, how to contact
you, and provides a point of contact for
further information and answers to your
questions. Study personnel from an independent
research institute (IBR) will contact you
directly regarding your assignment. We
encourage you to consider volunteering to
participate in this important study. If you
are interested, please volunteer today.
