Ninety-three percent of pilots in Germany admitted to falling asleep during flights in recent months, according to a recent internal survey by the German pilots’ union Vereinigung Cockpit (VC).
Fatigue is increasingly being treated as a normal condition within cockpit operations.
The poll surveyed more than 900 pilots. Of those, 44% said they napped regularly, 12% said they fell asleep on nearly every flight, and 33% said they did so occasionally. An additional finding showed that 99% of pilots had dozed off at least once during their duty hours. Three percent said it happened only once, while 7% could not recall how often it occurred.
VC stated that the survey is not representative of the entire pilot workforce in Germany. However, the results reflect growing concerns over persistent fatigue in the cockpit.
“A short nap is not critical in itself. But a cabin crew that is permanently exhausted poses a significant risk,” said Katharina Dieseldorff, a VC spokesperson, in comments cited by France 24.
According to VC, these in-flight naps are generally classified as “controlled rest,” a regulated procedure permitted during non-critical phases of flight. During these times, aircraft are typically operated on autopilot, and at least one pilot remains fully alert. Dieseldorff explained that controlled rest began as a short-term safety measure, but has since become a long-term coping mechanism in response to sustained structural stress within the aviation industry.
Fatigue growing during peak travel seasons
VC represents approximately 10,000 pilots and cockpit personnel in Germany, including those still in training. The union reported that pilots are frequently required to fly despite being excessively tired, a situation driven by tight flight schedules, limited staffing, and mounting operational pressure.
According to the survey, 73% of pilots said they were unable to rest adequately between flights. VC added that airline culture often fails to address fatigue as a serious safety issue and called for comprehensive regulatory and operational reform.
The union said that change must include improved oversight of flight duty schedules, the adoption of scientifically based fatigue risk management protocols, and stricter enforcement of limitations on flight time. Additionally, airlines must implement policies that address chronic overwork and allow for sufficient recovery time between shifts.
VC also reported that fatigue tends to worsen in the summer months, when staffing shortfalls and passenger demand combine to place additional pressure on aircrews.
Broader European trend
The findings from Germany reflect a wider pattern across the European aviation sector. A 2023 survey of 6,900 aviation professionals in 31 countries found that three in four pilots had briefly fallen asleep while flying in recent months. In total, 74% said falling asleep had become standard practice. The issue was more pronounced on longer flights, with 56% of long-haul pilots and 44% of short-haul pilots reporting such episodes. One in four respondents said they had experienced five or more instances of unintentional sleep while in the cockpit.
Experts said that when managed properly, controlled rest is not inherently unsafe, particularly during cruising periods when aircraft systems are largely automated. However, they warned that growing dependence on this practice as a routine solution to chronic fatigue indicates that the underlying demands of the profession are unsustainable.
VC emphasized that while controlled rest remains a useful tool within its prescribed limits, its increasing use as a way to cope with systemic fatigue points to a deeper problem. The union linked this trend to consistent understaffing, increasingly tight rosters, and rising pressure on flight crews—factors that become even more severe during peak travel periods.
“Growing reliance on in-flight rest is a symptom, not a solution,” the union said.
“It highlights chronic workforce pressures that must be addressed by regulators and airline operators alike.”