An integrated FRMS can increase safety and employee satisfaction by actively managing fatigue in pilots, aircrew, maintenance and ground staff.
The benefits of managing fatigue like any other risk within a SMS are significant. Reasons for investing in an FRMS include not only complying with Flight Time Limitations (FTL) but also:
1) To protect commercial performance through the measurement and quantification of exposure to risk from errors made as a consequence of increasing human fatigue. By understanding the nature of fatigue risk, operators may manage it effectively for continued safe operation and viability in the commercial environment. Safety links commercial performance with brand protection through:
- Reduction in frequency of medium and high risk events;
- Reduction in oversight from the regulating authority;
- Reduction in attrition;
- Reduction in Fatigue lost duty days and sickness incidence due fatigue related factors;
- Reduction in annual insurance premiums;
- Increased crew morale and customer relationship management (CRM) performance.
2) To provide a safe working environment. A reduction in fatigue associated with altered work schedules has been demonstrated in the nuclear industry by Fleishman et al (2006) with the following benefits:
- Reduction in frequency of severe accidents;
- Reduction in plant shutdown risk;
- Improved security;
- Reduction in frequency of lost and restricted work cases.
Working together, Regulators and Airlines can expect safer operations and in some cases, as the introduction of FRMS has led to reduced operational costs, FRMS can become completely or near self funding.