Technology Transfer: USS Nimitz

The Fatigue Countermeasures Program provided scientific information, training, and support in response to a request from the aircraft carrier USS NIMITZ (CVN-68) and COMNAVAIRPAC in March 1997 regarding the human performance effects of a planned 96-hr continuous operation (SURGEX). This type of operation was likely to result in extremely limited sleep opportunities for many individuals, even beyond the small amounts typically available in routine operations. Clearly, human fatigue was a potentially serious factor that could affect both operational effectiveness and safety. FCP researchers responded in several ways. First, they accommodated two senior Navy physicians (NIMITZ's Senior Medical Officer and COMNAVAIRPAC's Assistant Force Medical Officer) and an additional Industrial Hygiene Officer from NIMITZ in one of the train-the-trainer workshops on alertness management in flight operations. The workshop provided current information about sleep, sleep loss, fatigue, their impact on field operations, and what can be done to lessen the adverse effects. Secondly, they followed-up with a tailored, written document that included (a) the latest scientific information regarding the effects on performance, alertness, and mood of up to four days with little or no sleep, (b) operationally feasible countermeasures to improve the situation, and (c) survey guidelines for collecting relevant information during the operation. This document was written to address specific operational issues related to the surge operation. Third, they provided a briefing on sleep, sleep loss, and fatigue at a meeting of safety officers in San Diego prior to the operation. The safety officer from NIMITZ attended this meeting and obtained further guidance first-hand. Fourth, they actively participated in teleconferences and email communications discussing the relevant issues and strategies to address them. The information provided by the Fatigue Countermeasures Program staff was translated by the NIMITZ's Senior Medical Officer into a plan of specific actions. The activities included a widespread educational effort that substantially raised awareness of fatigue-related problems among senior officers and crewmembers and instructed them on how to identify and deal with these problems. The plan also addressed specific changes to work/rest schedules, napping and sleeping policies, and the usual ways of "doing business." The 4-day surge operation occurred in July 1997 and involved over 200 close air support sorties per day with only a couple of injuries. From both an operational and health and safety point of view, this high-profile operation was a clear success. After the exercise, several individuals involved made comments that recognized the contributions of the FCP. One of the safety officers wrote a note to the Navy's Director of Safety and Survivability that included the following: "....However, the most valuable contribution you made was connecting NIMITZ with the Fatigue Countermeasures folks at NASA. The rest plans for all high-workload people were restructured to longer intervals and were so successful that many felt the team could have carried on another day at least..."

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Last Update: June 24, 2002