This paper aims to develop a critical approach to flight safety by assessing theoretical and empirical studies on fatigue risk factors in cockpit and cabin crew. This paper also builds a fundamental basis for managing fatigue risk factors in the aviation industry. The main contribution of the paper demonstrates the fact that primary and secondary fatigue risk factors in cockpit and cabin crew affect the level of job satisfaction, operational efficiency, and flight security.

Fatigue as an emerging flight safety issue in the aviation industry requires an elaborate understanding and critical approach for proactive aviation management practices. The level of flight crew stress and fatigue must be critically managed to prevent flight accidents. Additionally, stress and fatigue have a negative influence on job satisfaction levels. This paper aims to examine the critical fatigue risk factors that affect the performance and safety of airline pilots and crew in the aviation industry. This paper also analyses the relationship between burnout and job satisfaction sub-dimensions. A factor analysis with a target population of 254 international flight crew has been conducted using the Minnesota Job Satisfaction Survey and Maslach Burnout questionnaire. The main findings of the study demonstrate that (i) cockpit and cabin crews’ job satisfaction and performance have been affected by stress and fatigue, (ii) psychological depression, anxiety and personal problems of the flight crew are the main causes of emotional fatigue, (iii) extensive flight hours and dealing with problematic passengers increase flight crew fatigue, (iv) personal achievements concerns and depersonalization increase flight crew fatigue.