Stress and Fatigue in Aviation
Duration
- One Semester or equivalent
Contact hours
- Nil
On-campus unit delivery combines face-to-face and digital learning.
Aims and objectives
This unit introduces you to the very important issues of stress and fatigue, and the implications of these two issues on human performance. The aviation industry is a safety-sensitive one, in which the consequences of error can be significant. Stress and fatigue can both contribute to safety in adverse ways. The difficulty we face in aviation is that stress and fatigue are integral components of modern aviation. They cannot be legislated away: rather, they must be understood and appropriately managed.
Unit Learning Outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
Unit Learning Outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
1. Describe acute and chronic stress
2. Evaluate various models of stress including the balance between stressors and resources
3. Distinguish between the various types and causes of fatigue and techniques for measuring and mitigating fatigue
4. Identify the principles of, and approaches to, regulation with regard to fatigue management in aviation
5. Elucidate the stages of sleep and the sleep-wake continuum
6. Explain the concept of circadian rhythms, the factors affecting the internal body clock and strategies to deal with circadian dysrhythmia
7. Demonstrate through individual written communications the application of analysis and human factors theory with regard to stress and fatigue issues in aviation.
Unit information in detail
- Teaching methods, assessment, general skills outcomes and content.
Teaching methods
*Scheduled face to face: N/A
*Scheduled synchronous online Learning events: N/A
Non-scheduled online learning events and activities: 48 hours
Other non-scheduled learning events and activities including independent study: approx. 102 hours
*Scheduled synchronous online Learning events: N/A
Non-scheduled online learning events and activities: 48 hours
Other non-scheduled learning events and activities including independent study: approx. 102 hours
Assessment
| Types | Individual or Group | Weighting | Assesses attainment of these ULOs |
| Assignment 1 | Individual | 25% | 1,2,7 |
| Assignment 2 | Individual | 35% | 3,4,7 |
| Assignment 3 | Individual | 40% | 2,3,4,5,6,7 |
Minimum requirements to pass this Unit
As the minimum requirements of assessment to pass a unit and meet all Unit Learning Outcomes to a minimum standard, a student must achieve:
(i) an aggregate mark of 50% or more, and
(ii) must complete all assignments.
Students who do not successfully achieve hurdle requirement (ii) in full, will receive a maximum of 44% as the total mark for the unit and will not be eligible for a conceded pass.
As the minimum requirements of assessment to pass a unit and meet all Unit Learning Outcomes to a minimum standard, a student must achieve:
(i) an aggregate mark of 50% or more, and
(ii) must complete all assignments.
Students who do not successfully achieve hurdle requirement (ii) in full, will receive a maximum of 44% as the total mark for the unit and will not be eligible for a conceded pass.
General skills outcomes
You will be provided with feedback on your progress in attaining the following generic skills:
- analysis skills
- problem solving skills
- communications skills
- ability to tackle unfamiliar problems, and
- ability to work independently
Content
• Stress and stress models
• Fatigue and fatigue Management and models
• Circadian Rhythms and Dysrhythmia
• Flight time Duty and Limitations
• Fatigue and fatigue Management and models
• Circadian Rhythms and Dysrhythmia
• Flight time Duty and Limitations
Study resources
- References.
References
A list of reading materials and/or required texts will be made available in the Unit Outline.