The materials included in the collection of documents describe the research of the NASA Ames Fatigue Countermeasures Group (FCG), which examines the extent to which fatigue, sleep loss, and circadian disruption affect flight-crew performance. The group was formed in 1980 — in response to a Congressional request to examine a possible safety problem of uncertain magnitude due to transmeridian flying and a potential problem due to fatigue in association with various factors found in air-transport operations — and was originally called the Fatigue/Jet Lag Program. The goals of the FCG are: (1) the development and evaluation of strategies for mitigating the effects of sleepiness and circadian disruption on pilot performance levels; (2) the identification and evaluation of objective approaches for the prediction of alertness changes in flight crews; and (3) the transfer and application of research results to the operational field via classes, workshops, and safety briefings.

Some of the countermeasure approaches that have been identified to be scientifically valid and operationally relevant are brief naps (

This work was done by Melissa Mallis, David Neri, Mark Rosekind, and Philippa Gander of Ames Research Center; John Caldwell of Air Force Research Laboratory; and Curtis Graeber of The Boeing Company. For further information, visit the FCG website at http://human-factors.arc.nasa.gov/zteam .

Inquiries concerning rights for the commercial use of this invention should be addressed to

the Ames Technology Partnerships Division at (650) 604-2954.

Refer to ARC-15114-1.