Airline Pilots Research Articles

Commercial airline pilots' job satisfaction before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: A comparative study

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the world's commercial aviation industry was unprecedented. National lockdowns and border closures effectively prohibited passenger air travel. Airlines responded by reducing operations, parking aircraft and making staff, including pilots, redundant. This research aims to examine the impact of COVID-19 on commercial airline pilots' job satisfaction before and during the pandemic and identify the workplace factors that affect it. Empirical data was gathered via an online survey which was distributed to members of three commercial airline pilot unions in Europe and Australasia in November 2021. 346 complete responses were received. Using Herzberg's 16 workplace factors as a theoretical frame for the survey and subsequent analysis, the findings showed that, overall, job satisfaction decreased during the pandemic. The largest effect sizes were observed for Salary, Job Security and Working Conditions while the smallest effect sizes were observed for Impacts on Personal Life, Responsibility and Recognition. The importance of effective communication between airline management and pilots was highlighted. The findings and recommendations regarding employee compensation, benefits and support packages are of relevance not only to airlines but also to other transport and economic sectors facing future disruptive events.

Hospitals, Aviation and Business

No abstract available. Article truncated after 150 words. Boeing’s recent troubles remind us that in many ways, healthcare is like aviation: 1. They are both highly technical endeavors, guided by highly educated and trained personnel such as physicians and pilots. 2. Even small mistakes can be devastating. 3. Operating margins (operating income/revenue) are very low. 4. Both are led by businessmen not trained in the industry. 5. Some have put profit ahead of safety. The cockpit of the typical airliner or the multitude of instruments in the typical intensive care unit demonstrates that aviation and medicine are both highly technical. Airline pilots have a minimum of 1,500 hours of flight time. This includes time spent obtaining a private pilot’s license, commercial license, instrument rating, multiengine rating, and airline transport pilot (ATP) certificate. Pilots often have additional in type ratings for turboprop or jet engines. Many have spent time as flight instructors and normally have at least 5 years …

Circadian disruption among Brazilian airline pilots

Circadian disruption among Brazilian airline pilots

Napping: its importance for airline pilots

Napping: its importance for airline pilots

Dampak Ketidaksesuaian Konfigurasi Parkir Pesawat di Parking Stand Bandar Udara Iskandar Pangkalan Bun Kalimantan Tengah

Iskandar Pangkalan Bun Airport, Central Kalimantan, has 5 parking stands that are used for its operational activities, the direction of the parking stands has been regulated in the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). In its implementation, violations occurred, namely parked aircraft that did not comply with the SOP and pilots who did not want to follow directions from AMC officers referring to the applicable SOPs. The purpose of this study was to find out the causes, impacts, and solutions of the mismatch of aircraft parking configurations at the parking stand of Iskandar Pangkalan Bun Airport, Central Kalimantan. This study uses descriptive qualitative research methods, data collection is done by participatory observation, structured interviews and documentation. The documentation used is in the form of the applicable AMC Iskandar SOP. The research was conducted on 3 informants, namely Mr. Idi Adnan Ismail with the position of Head of Services and Services section, Mr. Wahyu Hidayat with the position of Head of AMC. And Mr. Roni Chaeruddin as an AMC officer. The validity of the data using triangulation, namely source triangulation, technical triangulation and time triangulation. The results of the study indicate that there is a cause for the mismatch of aircraft parking configurations at the Iskandar Pangkalan Bun Airport parking stand. In the form of violations committed by AMC officers and pilots who committed violations on purpose. This violation resulted in a negative impact, namely flight delays, as well as the feared impact of crashes between aircraft and disruption of operations. Solutions made to overcome this impact include verbal warnings to Wings Air airline pilots and giving warnings in briefings carried out with the site manager (SM) of Citilink airlines, AMC officers, and marshallers. Keywords: Parking Stand, Parking Konfiguration, Iskandar Airport, SOP

Probiotic Supplementation With Saccharomyces boulardii and Enterococcus faecium Improves Gastric Pain and Bloating in Airline Pilots With Chronic Non-atrophic Gastritis: An Open-Label Study.

Background Commercial airline pilots (APs) are prone to upper gastrointestinal symptoms, such as epigastric pain and bloating. These issues are often linked to occupational risk factors like irregular diet, sleep disruption, and circadian rhythm disturbance. The use of probiotics to enhance intestinal health is well established, but their efficacy in treating upper gastrointestinal diseases is still debated. This is primarily due to the stomach's small resident microbiota and its low pH, which is inhospitable to most microbes. However, emerging research suggests that specific probiotic strains, such as Enterococcus faecium, can withstand acidic environments. Moreover, certain yeast species, including Saccharomyces boulardii, can survive at a low pH. Consequently, we conducted a preliminary, three-arm, randomized, open-label, dose-finding, four-week study to compare the effects of watchful waiting (WW) with the administration of an oral probiotic supplement containing S. boulardii and E. faecium in APs diagnosed with Helicobacter pylori-negative chronic non-atrophic gastritis (CNG). Methods The study included 39 APs with CNG who were randomized into three groups with a 1:1:1 ratio. The low-dose group (n = 13) received one capsule of the probiotic supplement twice daily, before meals, for four weeks. The high-dose group (n = 13) was administered two capsules of the supplement on the same schedule. The third group (n = 13) underwent WW and served as the control arm. Blinding was maintained for the examining physicians and laboratory staff, but not for the patients. All participants self-rated their experiences of gastric pain and bloating at the beginning and conclusion of the four-week treatment period. Additionally, serum levels of pepsinogen I (PGI) and pepsinogen II (PGII) were measured at these time points. Results Supplementation with probiotics significantly outperformed WW in reducing subjective gastric pain and bloating. This effect was consistent across both tested dosages, with no significant differences observed. However, only high-dose probiotics led to a statistically significant decrease in PGII levels and an increase in the PGI/PGII ratio after the four-week study period, a result not observed with low-dose probiotics. Conclusions Oral administration of S. boulardii and E. faecium demonstrated potential efficacy in reducing gastric pain and bloating symptoms in APs with CNG, as evidenced by statistically significant symptom improvement compared to the control group that did not receive the probiotic supplementation. Notably, high-dose probiotics resulted in a significant increase in the PGI/PGII ratio, indicating potential long-term cytoprotective effects on the gastric mucosa.

Relation of Sleep Quality to a Panel of Plasma Cardiometabolic Markers in Airline Pilots: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background Insomnia and poor sleep are leading modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Given the high susceptibility of airline pilots (APs) to sleep disturbances, we sought to investigate the hypothesis that poor sleep in this professional group correlates with alterations in plasma biochemical markers that would reflect critical aspects in the pathophysiology of cardiometabolic disorders. Methods In this preliminary cross-sectional study, we examined the relation of poor sleep to fourteen plasma biomarkers reflecting multiple cardiometabolic pathways in a convenience sample of 117 male APs. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used to categorize the participants into good sleepers (n = 70, 59.8%; PSQI scores from 0 to 4) and poor sleepers (n = 47, 40.2%; PSQI scores of 5 or higher). The concentrations of biomarkers were compared between the two groups using both univariable and multivariable analyses. Results Compared to good sleepers, APs identified as poor sleepers exhibited significantly different levels of four plasma cardiometabolic biochemical markers in univariable analysis. However, in multivariable-adjusted analysis, only three biomarkers, adiponectin, fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-21, and growth differentiation factor (GDF)-15, remained independently associated with poor sleep. Conclusion Poor sleep quality in APs correlates with lower plasma concentrations of adiponectin and elevated levels of FGF-21 and GDF-15. Further longitudinal studies are required to elucidate the role of these biomarkers in the link between sleep disturbances and cardiometabolic risk in this professional group.

Comparative Study on Flight Training of Chinese Airline Pilots at Home and Abroad

Abstract The study aimed to analyze flight training methods for Chinese airline pilots, comparing domestic and foreign approaches while assessing their respective advantages and disadvantages. Various aspects including language, culture, airspace, flight support, teaching methods, training standards, and costs were examined. Additionally, a quantitative analysis was conducted on theory and practical exam results, as well as the personality development of cadets from both training backgrounds. Results revealed that foreign flight training offered several benefits over domestic training, such as shorter duration and lower costs due to airspace accessibility. Cadets undergoing foreign training demonstrated higher average scores and passing rates in Instrument Rating and Commercial License Examinations compared to domestically trained counterparts. Furthermore, foreign training positively influenced cadets’ personality development. In conclusion, foreign flight training demonstrated significant advantages in terms of overall cost-effectiveness, training quality, and cadet professionalism. However, domestic training also had its merits. Thus, the authors recommended a comprehensive evaluation to determine the most suitable training approach for individual cadets.

Increased Peripheral Blood DNA Damage and Elevated Serum Levels of Melanoma Inhibitory Activity Protein: Clues to Excess Skin Cancer Risk in Airline Pilots?

Background and objective The risk of malignant melanoma (MM) and other forms of skin cancer appears to be higher in airline pilots (APs), potentially due to their exposure to ionizing and ultraviolet (UV) radiation. We explored the possibility of increased peripheral blood DNA damage and elevated serum levels of the melanoma inhibitory activity (MIA) protein - a serological marker for MM known to be stimulated by UV radiation - in this professional group. Methods This was a case-control study involving 40 male APs, each of whom was age- and tenure-matched (≥5 years of service) with 40 male office workers (OWs). We assessed DNA damage in the two professional groups by performing comet and micronucleus (MN) assays on peripheral blood. Serum levels of MIA protein were quantified using an immunoassay. Results The comet tail lengths and the frequency of MN were significantly higher in APs (4.57 ± 0.79 µm and 2.05 ± 0.26 per 1000 cells, respectively) than in OWs (3.81 ± 0.60 µm and 1.76 ± 0.31 per 1000 cells, respectively, both p<0.001). Furthermore, serum MIA levels were also significantly higher in APs (7.45 ± 0.95 ng/mL) than in OWs (5.78 ± 0.54 ng/mL, p<0.001). A significant positive correlation was found between comet tail lengths in APs and their serum MIA concentrations (r=0.68, p<0.01). Conclusions The increased burden of DNA damage and elevated serum MIA levels in APs may offer an explanation for their higher susceptibility to MM and other types of skin cancers.

Serum Calcium and Magnesium Levels, Not 25-Hydroxyvitamin D, Are Associated With Sleep Quality in Airline Pilots.

Despite the vulnerability of airline pilots (APs) to sleep disturbances, the biological underpinnings responsible for this phenomenon are still not entirely elucidated. However, there is an increasing amount of evidence indicating an association between 25-hydroxyvitamin D, Ca2+, and Mg2+ levelsand sleep health. In this cross-sectional study, we sought to examine the potential associations between serum levels of these biomarkers and the occurrence of poor sleep among APs. We examined a convenience sample of 100male APs who underwent the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) to assess their sleep quality. Those who scored 5 or higher on the PSQI were labeled as poor sleepers. Serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, Ca2+, and Mg2+ were quantified in all participants. Out of the 100 APs, 58 (58%) and 42 (42%) were classified as good and poor sleepers, respectively, based on the PSQI scores. We defined vitamin D deficiency as serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels below 10 ng/mL and insufficiency as levels ranging from 10 to 30 ng/mL. The results revealed no significant differences in serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D between the two groups, and there was no evidence of vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency. However, poor sleepers exhibited significantly lower levels of both Mg2+ (1.8 ± 0.1 mg/dLversus2.0 ± 0.1 mg/dL, respectively) and Ca2+ (8.5 ± 0.4mg/dLversus9.1 ± 0.5 mg/dL, respectively) compared to good sleepers (P < 0.001 for both). Logistic regression analysis identified both Mg2+ and Ca2+ as independent biomarkers associated with poor sleep quality in APs (P < 0.001 for both). Lower serum concentrations of Mg2+ and Ca2+, not 25-hydroxyvitamin D, may be associated with poor sleep in APs.

A Comparative Study of Seroprevalence of 17 Common Pathogens Among Airline Pilots and Office Workers.

Background The variation in infection riskamong individuals is thought to be partially influenced by occupational factors. This study aims to investigate the seropositivity rates of 17 common infectious agents in male airline pilots (APs), a professional group known to experience a high prevalence of cardiovascular and gastrointestinal diseases. Methodology In our study, we employed a case-control design with 100 male APsas cases, matched by age, sex, and tenure (i.e., at least five years of service) to 100 male office workers (OWs) who served as controls. We measured the IgG antibody levels to 17 pathogens using specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, including herpes simplex virus 1, herpes simplex virus 2, varicella-zoster virus, Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, human herpesvirus 6, human herpesvirus 7, Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus, Toxoplasma gondii, human T-lymphotropic virus 1, BK virus, John Cunningham virus, Merkel cell polyomavirus, human papillomavirus 16, human papillomavirus 18, Chlamydia trachomatis, and Helicobacter pylori.The determination of seropositivity cutoffs for each pathogen was made in accordance with the guidelines provided by the respective kit manufacturers. Results The seropositivity rates for the 17 pathogens ranged from 1% for human T-lymphotropic virus 1 to 94% for varicella-zoster virus and were similar in both professions, except for herpes simplex virus 1 and Helicobacter pylori, which were more prevalent in APs. Conclusions Our findings suggest a higher prevalence of previous infections with herpes simplex virus 1 and Helicobacter pylori in APs compared to OWs. These infections may be associated with the prevalence of specific non-communicable diseases in this professional group. However, additional longitudinal studies are needed to substantiate this hypothesis.

The effects of crew resource management on flight safety culture: corporate crew resource management (CRM 7.0)

Abstract The main purpose of crew resource management (CRM) is to ensure safe flights by preventing possible errors with the effective use of non-technical skills. The aim of the current study is to examine the effects of CRM on flight safety culture (FSC) with the help of the structural equation model with 451 airline pilots. As a result of the analysis, it was determined that there was a significant correlation between CRM and FSC and that CRM has a significant positive effect on FSC. It has been demonstrated that if CRM awareness and skills are used effectively, the perception of FSC will also improve. Furthermore, these findings indicate that there is a need to progress to the corporate CRM phase, i.e., CRM 7.0, to ensure that organisation-wide FSC awareness is established through CRM awareness.

Evaluation of an automatic continuous high-lift system in a flight simulator study with airline pilots

AbstractIn the INTELWI LuFo research project, TU Berlin is investigating an automatic, continuously operating high-lift system for passenger aircraft. Today’s commercial aircraft operate the high-lift systems in fixed steps. Typically, five fixed steps result from the different requirements for take-off and landing. For each flap position, there is a speed of best glide. Since aircraft decelerate during landing, they usually fly outside the optimum point. This is improved by a continuous flap system, as it continuously adjusts the flap position depending on the current flight condition. Flight simulation studies allow modelling and evaluation of new flight control functions at an early stage of development. This paper evaluates the flight simulator study for the assessment of the Automatic Continuous Moving Slat/Flap System with a focus on the pilots’ assessment. Ten airline pilots took part in the study in the SEPHIR flight simulator at TU Berlin. The approach scenarios vary with regard to the energy content of the approach since the high-lift system influences the energy management. The evaluation is based on questionnaires answered by the pilots after each approach. The participating pilots particularly emphasised the reduction of the workload and the pleasant integration of the continuous flap function into the existing cockpit procedures. According to the participating pilots, there is potential for improvement and further scenarios to investigate the functions behaviour in the event of failures in systems that affect flap operation.

What can we learn from severity index on flight data monitoring? Analysis of safety resilience in flight operations during COVID-19 disruptions

The unexpected spread of the pandemic raised concerns regarding pilots’ skill decay resulting from the significant drops in the frequency of flights by about 70%. This research retrieved 4761 Flight Data Monitoring (FDM) occurrences based on the FDM programme containing 123,140 flights operated by an international airline between June 2019 and May 2021. The FDM severity index was analysed by event category, aircraft type, and flight phase. The results demonstrate an increase in severity score from the pre-pandemic level to the pandemic onset on events that occurred on different flight phases. This trend is not present in the third stage, which indicates that pilots and the safety management system of the airline demonstrated resilience to cope with the flight disruptions during the pandemic. Through the analysis of event severity, FDM enables safety managers to recommend measures to increase safety resilience and self-monitoring capabilities of both operators and regulators. Practitioner summary: The onset of the pandemic led to a rise in the severity of flight data monitoring events in a large airline, likely linked to a lack of operational practice and skills decay. This was demonstrated across different flight phases and aircraft types. In the settled pandemic period, the severity index returned to pre-pandemic levels, indicating that the resilience of individual pilots and safety management systems is critical to operational safety. HIGHLIGHTS The FDM event severity scores significantly increased following the pandemic onset, especially for event categories involving pilot core competencies. The FDM event severity scores stagnated or decreased during the later pandemic stage indicating resilience among the airline pilots and the airline’s safety management system. The airline and pilots demonstrated resilience by effectively mitigating the effects of proficiency decay which took place as the pandemic started. FDM analysis has shown to be effective in establishing a proactive SMS programme to mitigate the negative impacts of the pandemic on aviation safety.

Data Analytics and Organizational Performance of Kenya Civil Aviation Authority

: Organizational performance, a pivotal metric determining its sustainability and standing among stakeholders and shareholders, was the focal point of investigation in this study within the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) and its relationship with data analytics. Four specific objectives were established: to evaluate the impact of descriptive analytics on KCAA's organizational performance; to assess the influence of prescriptive analytics on the same; to understand the relationship between predictive analytics and KCAA's organizational performance; and to scrutinize the effect of diagnostic analytics on KCAA's organizational performance. The study drew upon three established theoretical frameworks: the Resource-Based View (RBV), the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), and the Schumpeterian Innovation Theory. The research encompassed 1400 technical and operational staff across KCAA's headquarters in Nairobi, Moi International Airport in Mombasa, and Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, along with airline operators and pilots. A pilot study, conducted with 30 respondents, ensured the reliability and validity of the research instrument. Reliability tests yielded a Cronbach alpha coefficient averaging 0.79, indicating strong reliability, while validity tests confirmed the instrument's validity, with Average Variance Extracted (AVE) values surpassing the 0.5 threshold. The primary study involved 300 randomly selected participants, utilizing questionnaires for data collection. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were employed for data analysis, revealing a strong positive correlation among variables. Specifically, various types of data analytics displayed positive significance: Descriptive Analytics (β = 0.133, t = 2.046, p &lt; 0.05), Prescriptive Analytics (β = 0.198, t = 3.146, p &lt; 0.05), Diagnostic Analytics (β = 0.190, t = 3.089, p &lt; 0.05), and Predictive Analytics (β = 0.120, t = 1.961, p = 0.05). Diagnostic tests affirmed the absence of multi-collinearity, data normality, and heterogeneous data. Respondents collectively acknowledged the significant impact of data analytics on KCAA's organizational performance, with the study concluding that KCAA had not fully leveraged data analytics, leading to the recommendation of a policy framework prioritizing their ongoing big data ICT initiatives, and advocating for regular implementation of diagnostic analytics to enhance aviation performance, employee engagement, and overall organizational success. &#x0D; Key Words: Data Analytics, Descriptive Analytics, Prescriptive Analytics, Diagnostic Analytics, Predictive Analytics, Organizational Performance

Assessing Flight Crew Fatigue under Extra Augmented Crew Schedule Using a Multimodality Approach

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the question of how to reduce the risk of viral infection for international airline pilots without increasing the risk of fatigue was a novel and urgent theoretical and practical problem, which had never been encountered in the world civil aviation industry. A new scheduling method implemented by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) is the extra augmented crew (EAC) schedule, which avoids crew layover in another country on international flights by extending the maximum duty time and adding two additional crew members to such long-haul flights. In this study, a multi-day flight crew fatigue assessment was conducted to evaluate the impact of EAC flight. We recruited 71 pilots as participants, and their fatigue during EAC flights was measured using a multimodality approach integrating a subjective fatigue report, a psychomotor vigilance task, sleep monitoring, and biomathematical model predictions. The results showed that the subjective fatigue level increased during duty time compared to off-duty time, but still with acceptable levels of under 7, as measured by the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale; objective secondary task performance, as measured by the classic psychomotor vigilance task, showed no differences; pilots were able to get around 6 h of sleep, although they slept less during duty time compared to off-duty time. Model fitting using the FAID biomathematical model of fatigue confirmed that the EAC scheduling was compliant with the FAID tolerance level 91.3% of the time. The results suggest that the EAC flight created some moderate level of increased fatigue but no severe fatigue to cross-continent long-haul flight crews. This research can inform current and future scheduling and fatigue risk control during the pandemic or for future time-sensitive periods.

The relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness and blood pressure among airline pilots: a mediation analysis of body composition.

Blood pressure (BP), cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), and body composition are independently associated with health outcomes, yet the relationship between these variables has not been explored among airline pilots. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between CRF and BP, and further examine whether the relationship is mediated by body composition. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 356 airline pilots in New Zealand. We measured height, body mass, BP, waist circumference, skinfolds, and CRF (via a WattBike cycle ergometer submaximal VO 2max test). Partial correlation coefficients were estimated to examine the relationships between all variables while controlling for age and sex. Haye's PROCESS macro and the Sobel test were utilized for the mediation analysis. All body composition variables (body mass index, waist circumference and body fat percentage) were positively correlated with all BP variables (systolic pressure, diastolic pressure and mean arterial pressure) ( P < 0.001). CRF was negatively correlated with all body composition and BP variables ( P < 0.001). The Sobel test and indirect effect were significant ( P < 0.001), confirming that all body composition variables partially mediate the relationship between CRF and all blood pressure variables. Lower CRF is associated with higher blood pressure, and body composition partially mediates the relationship between these health risk factors. These findings highlight the importance of physical fitness and healthy body composition in the management of blood pressure among this occupational group.

Simulating Flight Crew Workload Settings to Mitigate Fatigue Risk in Flight Operations

In flight operations, the workload settings refer to the shift work, duty time, flight time, number of sectors, rest periods, time of day, duty patterns, number of time-zone transitions, number of consecutive duty days, and changes in the schedule. Workload factors, together with the biological mechanisms (the circadian rhythm, homeostatic sleep pressure, sleep inertia), can lead to the appearance of fatigue. Fatigue affects numerous tasks, such as performing inaccurate flight procedures, missing radio calls, missing or being too slow to pick up system warnings, forgetting or performing routine tasks inaccurately, and others. The focus of this paper is to determine which flight crew workload settings elements impact the appearance of fatigue. The process of collecting data regarding flight crew workload settings and fatigue is conducted on a sample of four airline pilots using an electronic CRD system of standardized chronometric cognitive tests and subjective self-assessment scales. Causal modeling tools of the IBM SPSS Statistics were used to detect correlations among flight crew workload settings, indicators of the subjective perception of fatigue, and measured fatigue indicators. In the final step, a set of simulations was created using simulation tools of the IBM SPSS Statistics to show how modifications of flight crew workload settings, such as modified duty time, number of days off, and others, can impact the level of fatigue. The obtained results can help improve the future planning of flight crew workload set-up and mitigate or prevent the appearance of fatigue in flight operations.

Evaluating the Serum Levels of Beclin-1 and Mammalian/Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin (mTOR) in Three Different Professional Categories.

The possible associations between occupational factors and autophagy - a catabolic process that is evolutionarily conserved and serves as a vital cornerstone in maintaining cellular balance - remain largely unexplored. We assessed serum levels of beclin-1, a principal effector of autophagy, and the mammalian/mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), a protein recognized for its part in suppressing autophagy, within a group of healthy individuals hailing from three different professional fields, each characterized by its unique working conditions. A total of 60 men were recruited from three distinct occupational categories: airline pilots, construction laborers, and fitness trainers. Each group consisted of 20 subjects who were selected during routine occupational health appointments. Serum levels ofbeclin-1 and mTOR were measured using commercially available immunoassays and compared among the three categories. Fitness instructors had the highest concentration of beclin-1 (3.1 ± 0.9 ng/mL). Construction workers followed with a mean of 2.4 ± 0.4 ng/mL, while airline pilots had the lowest levels at 1.9 ± 0.5 ng/mL (one-way analysis of variance, P < 0.001). In terms of mTOR levels, construction workers had the highest concentration (5.9 ± 1.9 ng/mL), followed by airline pilots (4.4 ± 1.7 ng/mL). Fitness instructors, on the other hand, had the lowest mTOR levels (3.5 ± 1.2 ng/mL; one-way analysis of variance, P < 0.001). Serum levels of autophagy biomarkers can vary among healthy individuals based on their professional roles. Considering the crucial function autophagy serves in both health and disease, further investigations are crucial to deepen our comprehension of the potential implications of autophagy in the field of occupational medicine.

Association of age and night flight duration with sleep disorders among Chinese airline pilots.

Night flights might aggravate sleep disorders among aging airline pilots, posing a threat to flight safety. In this study, we assess the prevalence of sleep disorders as well as the combined effects of night flight duration and aging on sleep disorders. A cross-sectional study was conducted between July and December, 2021. Participants were recruited from a commercial airline. Sleep disorders were evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The interaction effect of night flight duration and age on sleep disorders and their correlates were examined using logistic regression models. In total, 1,208 male airline pilots were included in the study, with a median age of 34 (interquartile range [IQR]: 29-39) years. The overall prevalence of sleep disorders was 42.6%. The multivariate logistic regression identified an interaction between night flight duration and age on sleep disorders (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] of the interaction term was 5.85 95% CI: 2.23-15.34 for age ≥ 45 years; 1.96 95% CI:1.01-3.81 for the age group 30-44 years). Longer night flight duration (aOR: 4.55; 95%CI: 1.82-11.38) and body mass index (BMI) ≥28.0 kg/m2 (aOR: 0.16; 95% CI: 0.03-0.91) were significantly associated with sleep disorders in participants aged ≥45 years. Hyperuricemia (aOR: 1.54; 95% CI: 1.09-2.16) and regular exercise (aOR: 0.23; 95% CI: 0.08-0.70) were significantly associated with sleep disorders in the 30-44 years age group. The mean monthly night flight duration and aging had a synergistic effect on airline pilots' sleep disorders, implying an aging and work-related mechanistic pathogenesis of sleep disorders in airline pilots that requires additional exploration and intervention.