The majority of FCG studies are performed in the field during normal flight operations or in simulators similar to this setting in the Crew Vehicle Systems Research Facility's Boeing 747-400 Simulator at NASA Ames Research Center.

In 1980, responding to a Congressional request, NASA Ames Research Center created a program to examine whether "there is a safety problem of uncertain magnitude, due to transmeridian flying and a potential problem due to fatigue in association with various factors found in air transport operations." The NASA Ames Fatigue/Jet Lag Program was created to collect systematic, scientific information on fatigue, sleep, circadian rhythms, and performance in flight operations. Three program goals were established and continue to guide research efforts:

• to determine the extent of fatigue, sleep loss and circadian disruption in flight operations
• to determine the impact of these factors on flight crew performance
• to develop and evaluate countermeasures to mitigate the adverse effects of these factors and maximize flight crew performance and alertness

Since 1980, studies have been conducted in a variety of aviation environments, controlled laboratory environments, as well as a full-mission flight simulation study. In 1999, the name of the group was changed to the Fatigue Countermeasures Group to provide a greater emphasis on the development and evaluation of countermeasures.

Information on the following pages highlights some of the Group's previous research findings, and publications.

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