Agricultural pilot safety in Australia: a survey.

Agricultural flying is one of the most hazardous forms of aviation. The incidence of death and injury among agricultural pilots in Australia is over one hundred times the national average for work-related injury. As with most forms of aviation, the pilot's awareness of and attitude toward risk are important factors in accident prevention. However, it is difficult for others to monitor and regulate agricultural flying activity, and responsibility for safety tends to fall largely on the pilot. A 1988 survey of agricultural pilots in Australia, carried out on behalf of the Civil Aviation Authority, showed that: 1) over 50% regularly exceed regulated flying hours; 2) 90% fly on application when tired; 3) there is a systematic relation between accidents and exposure to risk; 4) pilots perceive the main factor contributing to accidents is the pilot. The practical challenge for aviation medicine is to improve occupational safety by assisting pilots to monitor their own capabilities and performance.