Gauging and growing our collective fatigue risk management efforts

The CANSO Safety Steering Committee and Human Performance Workgroup has recently received a wave of requests from members seeking support and guidance on how best to establish and strengthen fatigue risk management systems (FRMS). This is an encouraging sign. It shows that across our global community of Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs), there is a growing awareness that fatigue is not just a personal challenge for controllers and staff, but also a systemic safety risk that requires a structured, collective response.

In air traffic management, human performance is our most critical asset. But it is also, at times, one of our most vulnerable. Fatigue is not simply about feeling tired; it is a scientifically recognised degradation in alertness, decision-making, and reaction time. These changes can occur gradually, or suddenly, and they directly increase the risk of error. What makes fatigue especially difficult to manage is that it affects individuals differently and often unpredictably. One person may struggle during early morning shifts, while another may be more vulnerable after several consecutive evenings. This variability means fatigue cannot be managed through simple duty limits or prescriptive rest periods alone. It requires a system-level approach.

Why now?

As traffic has returned to pre-pandemic levels, and in some cases exceeded them, ANSPs are navigating new layers of complexity. The challenge is not just the number of aircraft, but the dynamics of modern airspace, staffing shortages, and the increasing multitasking demands placed on controllers. With greater system pressure comes a greater need to sustain peak human performance over long and irregular working hours.

In this context, Fatigue Risk Management Systems (FRMS) provide ANSPs with a way to evolve from compliance-based duty rules toward evidence-based fatigue mitigation. An effective FRMS helps organisations:

• Anticipate when and where fatigue risks may arise
• Monitor and collect data on fatigue-related performance impacts
• Provide staff with reporting pathways and support mechanisms
• Audit and review fatigue management practices regularly
• Embed continuous improvement into safety and wellbeing strategies

Put simply, FRMS is about ensuring that fatigue is managed in the same structured, evidence-driven way as any other safety hazard.

A quick reference guide in development

To help ANSPs strengthen their approach, the CANSO Human Performance Workgroup is developing a new Quick Reference Guide to FRMS. This guide will be practical, concise, and highly visual, with a clear roadmap for assessing current practices and implementing targeted interventions.

Importantly, this guide is not intended to replace the two foundational references in our industry:

• ICAO Doc 9966, Fatigue Management in Air Traffic Services
• The CANSO/ICAO/IFATCA Fatigue Management Guide for ANSPs (2016)

Rather, it is designed to complement these documents by offering hands-on tools with a focus on operational application and strengthening FRMS in practice. Where the ICAO and CANSO guides set the standards, this quick reference document aims to make them accessible and actionable in the daily realities of ANSP operations.

Your input is essential

We are now inviting members to share their needs: What would help most right now in advancing fatigue risk management in your organisation? Is it regulatory clarity? Better tools for rostering? More effective reporting and data analysis? Peer exchange opportunities? Training for staff and managers?

To better understand where members currently stand, we are launching a short survey with questions mapped against CANSO’s maturity framework, covering national regulations and compliance requirements, organisational fatigue policies, rostering and scheduling practices, fatigue data collection and monitoring, reporting and occurrence management, and review and continuous improvement.

By collecting this input, we can build a shared picture of where the global ANSP community is today, and where support is most needed. This will not only shape the quick reference guide, but also inform future workshops, peer learning opportunities, and CANSO initiatives in this space.

Building safety and sustainability together

Fatigue management isn’t just about preventing accidents; it’s about protecting the wellbeing and sustained performance of the people who keep our skies safe. As operations grow more complex, we need to treat fatigue with the same rigour as any other safety risk.

To that end, our survey will run throughout September and will be sent directly to CANSO members. We look forward to sharing our results with the community and to use the data to support best initiatives and research going forward. These inputs will also guide the quick reference guide and shape future workshops, tools, and peer-learning initiatives.

If your organisation didn’t receive the survey or would like to participate directly (non-CANSO members are also invited), please contact the CANSO Safety Programme Manager.