Paperdoi:10.3357/AMHP.6532.2025
Actigraphy-Driven Biomathematical Fatigue Modeling in British Military Rotary-Wing Pilots
Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance 96(3):206–211
TL;DR
UK military helicopter pilots (48 recruited, 40 analysed) wore actigraphs; SAFTE effectiveness was compared with Samn-Perelli fatigue ratings. Night flights lowered SAFTE scores, and agreement between SAFTE and self-rated fatigue weakened at higher fatigue. Follow-up (AMHP 96(12):1043–1049, doi 10.3357/AMHP.6666.2025) uses the model to flag higher-risk pilots.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: A study of fatigue in British military rotary-wing pilots was conducted to determine the utility of actigraphy-driven fatigue modeling in the military rotary-wing environment.
METHODS: A total of 48 pilots were recruited across the 3 military services of the United Kingdom. Objective fatigue was predicted using wearable actigraphy and the Sleep Activity Fatigue Task Effectiveness (SAFTE) fatigue model. Subjective data were collected from daily questionnaires completed by the study subjects, including an assessment of their own fatigue level using Samn-Perelli Scale scores. The relationship between these two data sets was then assessed with correlation and linear regression modeling.
RESULTS: There were 38 men and 2 women recruited. The mean age was 36.4 yr (standard deviation ± 6.5, range 26–52 yr). In total, 200 flights were undertaken, with a mean flight time of 156 min (± 77.1, range 15–480); the mean landing time of these flights was 18:45 (range 11:00–02:30). The data included 37 d of pilots deployed on exercise. SAFTE scores were shown to decline for night flying, especially if landing after 22:00. With increasing subjective levels of fatigue, the relationship between SAFTE and Samn-Perelli Scale scores in subjects weakened.
DISCUSSION: Actigraphy-driven modeling has a role in specific aspects of military rotary-wing aviation. Consideration should be given to its use in specific scenarios, including night-flying and flights undertaken when deployed on exercise.
Pelham A, Van Tongeren M, Arnold H, Cocco P. Actigraphy-driven biomathematical fatigue modeling in British military rotary-wing pilots. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2025; 96(3):206–211.
Verbatim from the publisher's DOI record (opens in a new tab) · Abstract as deposited by the publisher with Crossref; © the authors/publisher
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Pelham, A., et al. (2025). Actigraphy-Driven Biomathematical Fatigue Modeling in British Military Rotary-Wing Pilots. Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance, 96(3), 206–211. https://doi.org/10.3357/AMHP.6532.2025
Pelham, Andrew, et al. 2025. "Actigraphy-Driven Biomathematical Fatigue Modeling in British Military Rotary-Wing Pilots." Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance 96 (3): 206–211. https://doi.org/10.3357/AMHP.6532.2025.
Pelham, A. et al. (2025) 'Actigraphy-Driven Biomathematical Fatigue Modeling in British Military Rotary-Wing Pilots', Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance, 96(3), pp. 206–211. doi: 10.3357/AMHP.6532.2025.
Pelham, Andrew, et al. "Actigraphy-Driven Biomathematical Fatigue Modeling in British Military Rotary-Wing Pilots." Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance, vol. 96, no. 3, 2025, pp. 206–211. https://doi.org/10.3357/AMHP.6532.2025.
A. Pelham et al., "Actigraphy-Driven Biomathematical Fatigue Modeling in British Military Rotary-Wing Pilots," Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance, vol. 96, no. 3, pp. 206–211, 2025, doi: 10.3357/AMHP.6532.2025.
@article{pelham2025actigraphydriven,
title = {{Actigraphy-Driven Biomathematical Fatigue Modeling in British Military Rotary-Wing Pilots}},
author = {Pelham, Andrew and others},
year = {2025},
journal = {Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance},
volume = {96},
number = {3},
pages = {206--211},
doi = {10.3357/AMHP.6532.2025}
}Added to the ChatPPG research hub
