Research Proposal: Pilot Fatigue Problems in UK Aviation - MGMT3001

This report presents a research proposal focusing on pilot fatigue problems in the UK aviation industry, specifically at international airports. The study aims to identify fatigue-related issues and explore how the aviation industry handles and mitigates these problems. The research employs an applied research approach, using both qualitative and quantitative methods, including Qualtrics surveys and non-probability sampling to collect data on pilot demographics, work routines, and fatigue levels. The proposal details data collection methods, data analysis techniques, and ethical considerations. The research seeks to provide practical solutions and recommendations for airline management to reduce pilot fatigue and improve flight safety. The report includes references and appendices with survey questions.

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Student Name: Yan Min Aung
Student ID No: 23491250
Unit Name : Research for Business and
Tourism
Unit Code: MGMT3001
Tutor’s Name: Suman Sen
Assignment No: 4
Assignment Title: Research Proposal
Due Date: 24.5.2021
Date Submitted: 24.5.2021

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Date:
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Table of Contents
1) Problem Statement and Research Objectives
2) Research Design
3) Data Collection Methods
4) Qualtrics Survey Explanation
5) Sample Selection
6) Data Analysis Techniques
7) Ethical Considerations
8) References
9) Appendixes

1) Problem Statement and Research Objectives
The purpose of this study is to identify and explain the pilot
fatigue problems caused by flying and carrying many passengers at
UK international airports to solve and reduce
fatigue problems during the period of the year 2019.
The Objectives
 To identify fatigue-related issues in the aviation industry that
have affected pilots at British international airports during this
period.
 To explain how the United Kingdom aviation industry handles or
reduces the fatigue problems affecting pilots, especially in
international flights, what skills pilots need during this period.
2) Research Design
There are two main components in the core function and the
research approach can either be pure or applied, based on the goal
of the research (Hasa, 2017). The research in this study uses
‘applied research’ because it is conducted to solve a specific and
practical problem and gives an acceptable practical solution.
Applied research is therefor designed to answer specific questions
and is aimed to solve practical problems, developing new
knowledge procedures (Fomunyam, 2020) and moreover, the
findings of the applied research always have a current use, while
pure research explores theoretical knowledge and expands new
knowledge to a particular field of study is. In the simple term, the
applied research means to provide answers in any situation and to
improve or figure out the problem. The applied research function
has been used in the report because the main objective is to
examine the state of the aviation industry and the effects of the
fatigue problems on the pilots. Research is looking for improvement
opportunities which can be undertaken by the airline organization to
try and mitigate the fatigue issues directly affecting the pilots in the
United Kingdom. The purpose of this study is to provide a precise
and factual event that has occurred and that does not require to be

prepared or invented. As a result this research proposal will
intelligently investigate and analyze the pilots’ demographics and
their daily routines, and moreover by using the explanatory
research to help the airlines management department look for
appropriate measures that would require pilots to reduce. And
reduce these problems during their working times as much as
possible. This result is the combination of the results of both
qualitative and quantitative analysis methods into a mixed method
which is used to obtain essential information in the numerical
statistics as possible and furthermore, used data from the
questionnaires and sleep diary are the needed to be collected and
monitored as part of a pilot’s watchdog, moreover (Krueger & Casey
2015) stated that since the productivity are reliable form of data,
the can be used for observation in research studies.
3) Data Collection Method
The study by Bryan (2001) cited in Daniel (2016) mentioned that
quantitative is beneficial to the researchers as it uses the statistical
data as a tool for saving time and resources, and therefor, will be
used in this study, it informs the logical sense of the accurate details
and information and gives the right direction as to what the
researchers has to complete. The methods for collecting
quantitative data and information are by using surveys and
questionnaires (Fluet, 2020). The questionnaires are viewed as a
primary research tool for the researchers and its crucial to for them
analyze the demographic information and to report fatigue levels
using interviews and surveys methods. Moreover, the use of
questionnaires have many advantages, as economically, it saves
time and the money in understanding the information collected,
reaching wider respondents compare to other collection methods
(Cleave, 2021). Constrastingly, the research by Flick (2014) argues
that the qualitative research is diverse and can relate to a person’s
life, experience, behaviors and organizational functioning, which
shows that it is not only based on the statistics, but also focuses on
the real events. This study will be using questionnaires to measure
the level of fatigues, lack of sleep, and circadian disorders in the
pilots, which includes the pilot demographics.. For example there
maybe more men than women in this aviation industry. Nowadays,

the most widely used applications are surveys and online
questionnaire forms, as it is much easier for the researchers to find
the data and information what they are really looking from a wide
variety of respondents and what is easily accessible to most pilots,
domestically and internationally makes processing quick and easy
with flight tasks management to over the problems.
4) Qualtrics Survey Explanation
This study includes several questions in the Qualtrix survey and it
mainly uses open questions with some additional questions in the
multivariate format which is shown in the appendix down below. The
open-ended questions, created by the researchers, are to get the
exact and most effective answers because the mangers in the
aviation industry can then provide a potent counter. The first part of
this study provides survey questions where the participants have to
provide information including their sleep times, productivity, shifts,
and other demographics such as their gender, age and extra work.
Furthermore, other important data like previous experience and
their health are also applicable to the managers to improve and
reduce the fatigue problems in the aviation industry. Therefor, the
rest of the survey is designed to help the people especially the
pilots and airlines deal with issues related to fatigue, based on the
results of the survey to identify the pilots’ sleep routine, sleeping
habits, and overall experience. The response of the participating
pilots will help the airlines executives to become more aware of
their requests and the tiredness caused by the long day and night
shifts and the results which are received is an effective explanation
to improve safety during the flight operations.
5) Sample Selection
There are two methods of sampling, they are probability and non-
probability. Probability sampling refers to that “every member of the
population has a chance of being selected and there are also
chances of the responds to the subject.”(McCombes, 2019). On the
other hand, the convenience sampling refers to non-probability
sampling and the information are collected in the available
population and getting responds from them. The advantage of non-

probability sampling is that it can be use when a target population
cannot be specifically identified and also not every participants have
to respond in the survey (Stratton, 2019). In this study, the non-
probability sampling method will be chosen and the survey will be
conducted to a particular group of professional UK pilots to
determine the level of pilot fatigues during the long operational
flights and also changes in the time-zones while flying
internationally. Lastly, it is a quantitative approach which mainly
focused on the pilot fatigues affected by the large number of
passengers moving in the year 2019, and that data will be used
through surveys.
6) Data Analysis Techniques
The data analysis techniques are a series of actions where all the
disorganized data are gathered through conducting questionnaires
and surveys are definitely analyzed in order to improve knowledge
ideas and familiarization. This study’s shape analysis uses univariate
factors concerning with many multi-person airline pilot fatigue due
to lifestyle related risk factors. The data and result received will be
used for the aviation executives to reduce and make changes of the
risk of fatigue in the pilots in the upcoming airlines operations. “The
univariate analysis refers to analysis of only one variable and it can
be performed in several ways.” (Zach, 2021). One way is by using
EXCEL as it is convenient to handle ad infer from the gathered
information and the tables can be evaluated. As part of the surveys,
the collected information, personal characteristics of the pilots, are
shown using tables. The pilots who suffered drowsiness during the
flight operation times will shown in the report format with some
comments that must be taken into account by the airlines.
7) Ethical Considerations
It is crucial and essential for researchers to consider the ethical
issues because it has a direct impact on the people, as Smith Et. Al
(2015) mentioned that the concerns can rise at any time in the
research design. The data and information or the result are being
used to effectively improve the pilot’s health and lifestyle and to

reduce fatigue problems to be more effective in flight operations.
The responses received from the pilots cannot be used for any
public purposes or in exchange for funds. Moreover, the research
fund requires approval from the institution, before using it for any
other purposes. (Smith Et. Al, 2015). The online questionnaires in
this study are confidential, where the participants are required to
log in with a password to complete the questions and the
information received from them will be kept confidential. Lastly, the
survey documents written mostly in English as the researchers
mainly focused solely on UK pilots living in the country, will be
emailed to the airline executives, after the approval, ensuring the
safety of personal confidential information.
8) References
Cleave, P. (2021). “Advantages Of Questionnaires In Online
Research.” Available at:
https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/blog/advantages-of-questionnaires-
in-online-research. Viewed: 19 May 2021
Daniel, E. 2016. “The Usefulness of Qualitative and Quantitative
Approaches and Methods in Researching Problem-Solving Ability in
Science Education Curriculum,” Journal of Education and Practice.
Vol.7, No.15,Pp.91-100
Flick, U. 2014. “An introduction to qualitative research” (5th ed.).
London: Sage Publications Ltd.
Fluet, B. 2020. “Data Collection Methods for Qualitative and
Quantitative Research.” Available at: https://invoke.com/blog/data-
collection-methods-for-qualitative-and-quantitative-
research.Viewed: 19 May 2021
Fomunyam G. K. 2020. “ Pure and Applied Research as the
Epicenter of Research in Engineering Education”, International
Journal of Engineering Research and Technology, Vol.13, No.9,
Pp.2402-2408
Hasa 2017. “Difference Between Pure and Applied Research | Pure
vs Applied Research.” Available at:
https://www.differencebetween.com/difference-between-pure-and-
vs-applied-research/. Viewed: 19 May 2021
Krueger, R & Casey, M 2015, Focus groups, 1st edn, Thousand Oaks,

California: Sage Publ.
McCombes, S., September 19, 2019 “An Introduction of sampling
methods” Available At:
https://www.scribbr.com/methodology/sampling-methods/ Viewed:
19 May 2021
Smith, P.G., Morrow, R.H. & Ross, D.A., 2015, Ethical considerations
chapter 6, Field Trials of Health Interventions: A Toolbox, 3rd edn,
Oxford (UK): OUP Oxford
Stratton S. J., June 2019, “ Data Sampling Strategies for Disaster and
Emergency Health Research,” Prehospital and Disaster Medicine,
Vol.34, No.3, Pp.227-229
9) Appendixes
Pilot Fatigues Questionnaires During The Year Of
2019
https://qfreeaccountssjc1.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/preview/
SV_0c71pHmbKnho9uK?
Q_CHL=preview&Q_SurveyVersionID=current
Q1) How does flight fatigue has affected you mentally and physically
during flight operations?
Q2) Based on your experience,which is more effective: waking up at
night or during the day?
Q3) Which stage of performance is most affected when fatigue occurs?
Q4) How many days do you work per work?
Q5) What makes you difficult to sleep when you are flying?

Q6) Do you have any other job apart from being a pilot?
 Yes
 No
Q7) Does your company provides Fatigue Management training?
 Yes
 No
Q8) Does your company is aware of the flight fatigues happening to you and your co-
workers?
 Yes
 No
Q9) Do you get enough sleep when you are on a long-haul flight?
 Yes
 No
Q10) Are you allow to take leave when you know who are having fatigues?
 Yes
 No
Q11) How often do you usually get flight fatigue?
 Never
 Rarely
 Occasionally
 Always

Q12) Where did you usually sleep or rest when you know you are having flight
fatigues?
 Airport Lounges
 Resting Cabins
 Flight Deck
 At Home
Q13) How often have you used melatonin to sleep over the last three months?
 1-2 times
 3-5 times
 6-10 times
 11-20 times
 More than 20 times
Q14) How often have you used other alternative medicines over the past three
months to reduce flight fatigue happening to you?
 1-2 times
 3-5 times
 6-10 times
 11-20 times
 More than 20 times
Q15) How much sleep time do you typically require to feel completely rested and
alert for the day?
 Less than 5 hrs
 5-6 hrs
 6-7 hrs
 7-8 hrs
 8-9 hrs
 Greater than 9 hrs