A German pilots' union has revealed that the vast majority of its members admit to napping during flights, citing staff shortages and operational pressure as contributing factors. The Vereinigung Cockpit union surveyed over 900 pilots, finding that 93% had napped during a flight in recent months.
The survey, though described as 'not representative', showed that 12% of pilots nap on every flight, 44% do so regularly, 33% occasionally, 3% as a one-off, and 7% could no longer recall how often they napped. Union vice-president Katharina Dieseldorff stated that 'napping has long become the norm in German cockpits'.
Dieseldorff warned that what began as a short-term recovery measure has become a permanent response to structural pressures. She noted that while a short nap is not critical in itself, a permanently exhausted cockpit crew poses a significant risk. The union defined napping as 'controlled rest phases during the flight phase'.
The union highlighted that staff shortages and rising operational pressure, particularly during summer months, have worsened fatigue among pilots. The Vereinigung Cockpit represents 10,000 pilots, cockpit workers, and trainees.
