Qantas have recently released a media update on some research they have conducted with the university of Sydney. They surveyed their passengers on strategies that are used to reduce jetlag and travel fatigue. The most common strategy was to use headphones/earplugs and to nap on the plane, with 47% of people noted to seek sunlight after their flight to help with jetlag. 99% of people reporting that they do use a strategy during the flight, and 89% after the flight.
The release does mention “Project Sunrise”, a pilot (excuse the pun) project where three Boeing 787-9 flights will be used to study passengers and crew. On 18 October, six Qantas Frequent Flyer volunteer passengers will take part in the 19-and-a-half-hour flight from New York to Sydney with a unique inflight experience designed around recommendations from CPC researchers. They will be fitted with wearable technology devices and follow a specially designed sleep, food and beverage and physical movement schedule. Qantas is also working with sleep researchers from the Cooperative Research Centre for Alertness, Safety and Productivity (Alertness CRC) who will carry out research on pilots and cabin crew.
Pilot and Cabin Crew research – in partnership with the CRC for Alertness, Safety and Productivity
- The primary aim of the research is to examine the sleep cycles and alertness of pilots and cabin crew during extended flight duty to establish optimum crew work and rest patterns.
- Four pilots and six cabin crew will be involved in the data collection, wearing activity monitors and completing sleep diaries and rest and alertness logs.
- Pilots will wear EEG (electroencephalogram) brain monitoring equipment for the duration of the flight to track brain activity and monitor alertness during their “on” times and sleep during their “rest” periods.
- Pilots will also provide researchers with urine samples from before, during and after the flight which will track melatonin levels to establish individual body clock timing.
- Cameras will be mounted in the cockpit for the flight duration to record alertness cues and operational activities.
- The pilots have spent time in the 787 flight simulator to ensure the EGG brain monitoring equipment doesn’t interfere with aircraft systems and standard operations.
Passenger research – in partnership with University of Sydney’s Charles Perkins Centre
- The aim of the research is to identify strategies to reduce jetlag and promote inflight health.
- Passengers will be fitted with wearable device technology to track movement and light exposure.
- Customers will experience a difference in food and beverage menus and service timings to encourage body clocks to adjust to the destination time zone.
- Specific times will be allocated for out of seat movement and activities.
- Passengers will keep a daily log for a week prior to the flight, during the flight and for two weeks after the flight and will note how they feel throughout the study.
- Passengers will complete a test on an iPad, similar to a game of “Whack a Mole”, to gauge reaction time and
Media release can be found here:
Poster/publication can be found here:
