The DCU Business School has shared new research, “Implementation of Karolinska Sleepiness Scale to improve pilots’ awareness and confidence in fatigue reporting”, recently published in the Journal of Air Transport Management.
The study examines pilot fatigue in short-haul night freight operations and explores how the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS) can support pilots’ fatigue awareness, confidence in fatigue reporting, and overall aviation safety. The findings highlight that structured fatigue assessment tools such as the KSS can strengthen Fatigue Risk Management Systems (FRMS), improve communication around fatigue, and help foster a stronger safety culture within aviation organisations.
The research was authored by Captain Patrick Mullen from easyJet and Dr Viktoriia Ivannikova from the DCU Business School. The article is available to read here.

