More than 3/4 European pilots responding to a new survey reported experiencing at least one “microsleep” in the cockpit during the preceding four weeks. That is alarming enough, but the concerns about reporting fatigue and refusing longer duties may even more troubling.

European Pilot Survey Finds Widespread Cockpit Fatigue And Fear Of Reporting It

A new report by aviation consultancy Baines Simmons , commissioned by the European Cockpit Association (ECA), examines responses from 7,198 pilots across 32 countries. The survey was conducted in August 2026 and asked pilots about their experiences with fatigue, work schedules, and reporting systems.

Among the findings:

76.8% reported at least one microsleep while operating an aircraft during the previous four weeks

24.7% reported five or more microsleeps during that period

38.8% said they usually or always lacked enough time off to recover from fatigue between duties

52% said they had flown during the preceding three months when, in hindsight, they should…