Upon his retirement as a non-routine flight operations captain from a fractional operator in 2015, Dr. Veillette had accumulated more than 20,000 hours of flight experience in 240 types of aircraft—including balloons, rotorcraft, sea plans, glides, war birds, supersonic jets and large commercial transports. He is an adjunct professor at Utah Valley University. In June 2023, he won the prestigious Bill Gunston Technology Writer of the Year Award.
Between 2010 and 2012, more than 6,000 European pilots were asked to self-assess the level of fatigue they experienced during their flight duties. The surveys confirm that pilot fatigue is a common, dangerous and underreported phenomenon in Europe.
Heat, glare, noise, vibrations, exceptionally dry air and confinement to a seat for hours can act synergistically to deepen the stress on a body's reserves.
When a thrust reverser doesn’t behave as intended, the situation instantly requires a pilot’s quick and correct reaction during a crucial phase of flight with thin safety margins.
