IntroductionMost aviation accidents have largely been attributed to "pilot fatigue" (Mohler, 1998). This is because a pilot's input into the aircraft is largely dependent on his or her consciousness at work, so in the event that he or she may be fatigued, this leaves room for errors in his or her inputs (Smith, 2008). Although technological advances in avionics have put preventive mechanisms in place on the flight systems of today's aircraft that ensure pilots are always alert, sleep-free and refreshed, small effects of fatigue can significantly jeopardize flight safety (Mohler, 1998). This is because the tasks performed by the pilot in the cockpit require a lot of vigilance, care, as well as both mental and physical well-being and readiness. Taking this into account it is very difficult to eliminate cockpit noise, aircraft vibrations, long flights; little sleep and irregular working hours which contribute most to pilot fatigue and which can have a great influence on his performance. This article analyzes the main factors that cause pilot fatigue; the impact of pilot fatigue and the damage associated with it and concludes with how to manage it. Definition of pilot fatigue According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA, 2009) fatigue is a subjective feeling of tiredness that distorts the ability to concentrate on a particular task and the task often seems difficult even though the person performing it may be an expert in the same field. Jackson (2006) adds that fatigue itself is a condition that reflects inadequate rest combined with a myriad of symptoms that are closely associated with displaced, interrupted, or disturbed biological factors… half of the article… .tybrochures/media/ Fatigue_Aviation.pdfJackson, A.C. & Earl, L. (2006). Prevalence of fatigue among commercial pilots. Oxford Journals. Retrieved from http://occmed.oxfordjournals.org/content/56/4/263.fullMohler, S.R. (1998). Pilot fatigue is manageable, but remains an insidious threat. Human Factors and Aviation Medicine: Vol. 45: 1. Retrieved from http://www.smartcockpit.com/data/pdfs/flightops/humanfactors/Pilot_Fatigue.pdfPrintup, M. (2000). The effects of fatigue on performance and safety. AirlineSafety.Com. Retrieved from http://www.airlinesafety.com/editorials/PilotFatigue.htmSmith, B.L. (2008). Detecting pilot fatigue using aircraft state variables. West Virginia University: School of Engineering and Mineral Resources. Retrieved from http://wvuscholar.wvu.edu:8881//exlibris/dtl/d3_1/apache_media/L2V4bGlicmlzL2R0bC9kM18xL2FwYWNoZV9tZWRpYS8xMzk3MA==.pdf