Flight safety: microsleep, vigilance and stress in civil and militar pilots

It is well known that during stressful situations, as intense military operations, a sleep debt and/or an impairment of sleep quality can easily be present. In such conditions, detrimental effects on vigilance and mood can accumulate, leading to increase errors and to decrease flight safety. Studies analyzing this concern are reviewed and it is concluded that a combination of strategies may provide the greatest potential to optimize alertness and performance in operational settings.