British pilots score high on burnout scale -- but still perform well

Researchers of Eindhoven University of Technology and the British Airline Pilots' Association contacted all active members of the association (some 9000 pilots) of which 1147 filled in the researchers' online questionnaire. The results clearly show that the pilots have an exceptionally burdening job. 20 percent report clinical burnout levels, which consists of high levels of exhaustion and disengagement from work. 88 percent often see colleagues starting their shift fatigued, 87 percent feel worn and weary after work, and 68 percent mention feeling becoming disconnected from their work.

Nevertheless, roughly half of the pilots report their last flight simulator performance to 'meet the standards', and the other half performed 'above standard'. So at first sight there seems to be little reason to have extra worries about air travel safety. However, the researchers did find a strong indirect relationship between the scores on the burnout scale and simulator performance. They saw that higher pilot burnout reduces the pilot's efforts to seek challenges and to streamline their job demands. However, undertaking these efforts was positively related to the flight simulator tests. Overall, burnout was related to worse performance at simulator tests because pilots made less effort to improve their job.

The burnout levels measured in this study are higher than those measured in any other occupation. Forty percent of the pilots have 'very high burnout levels' (which is a level below the clinical burnout level mentioned earlier). In an earlier study among 13000 employees of several occupations the average figure was 4 percent. In the same study the occupation category with the highest chances of burnout was found to be health care professionals, with 'very high burnout levels' of up to 14 percent.

The researchers say that these results are in part not surprising, looking at the prevailing working conditions. Pilots face regular shift work across different time zones that leads to jetlag. Their work environment sees them spending a lot of time in small, confined spaces with low humidity and a lot of noise, with very high responsibilities. The nature of the job means they are away from home very often and hence have difficulties handling home situations. Also the increased competition in air travel leads to less job security.

Although safety appears to be not at stake currently, the well-being of the pilots is. The researchers therefore advise airline companies to face up to this fact and create programmes to diagnose high burnout levels and to address them by improving their working conditions. Also it should become easier for pilots to report burnout symptoms or even to report 'unfit to fly' without having to fear heavy consequences.