Pilot Shortage and Technician Fatigue: Safety Risk Analysis And Policy Implications for Indonesia’s Post-Pandemic Aviation Industry
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54147/langitbiru.v19i1.1545Keywords:
Aviation Safety, Human Factors, Fatigue Risk Management, Pilot Shortage, Technician FatigueAbstract
In the post-COVID-19 era, Indonesia’s aviation industry faces two major human resource challenges: pilot shortages and technician fatigue. High costs of type rating have left many pilot graduates unemployed despite strong airline demand, while long working hours increase maintenance fatigue risks that threaten flight safety. This study aims to analyse the safety risks arising from pilot shortages and technician fatigue in Indonesia’s post-pandemic aviation industry and to identify relevant policy implications from a human factors perspective. This study applies a qualitative descriptive approach, drawing on secondary data from official reports, academic publications, and aviation regulations, complemented by brief stakeholder interviews. While previous studies generally address pilot shortages and technician fatigue separately, this research integrates both issues within the Indonesian post-pandemic context. The findings reveal strong links between structural barriers, such as high training and certification costs, and operational risks, such as fatigue, which together create a significant aviation safety gap. Policy recommendations include expanding access to type rating programs, enforcing Fatigue Risk Management Systems (FRMS), and strengthening technician certification standards. This integrative analysis contributes a novel perspective to aviation safety literature and offers actionable strategies to support Indonesia’s post-pandemic aviation recovery.
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References
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Lee, S., & Kim, J. K. (2018). Factors Contributing to the Risk of Airline Pilot Fatigue. Journal of Air Transport Management, 67, 197-207. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jairtraman.2017.12.009
Li, Y., & He, J. (2024). A Review of Strategies to Detect Fatigue and Sleep Problems in Aviation: Insights from Artificial Intelligence. Archives of Computational Methods in Engineering, 31(8), 4655-4672. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1007/s11831-024-10123-5
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Mizzi, A., Lohmann, G., & Carim Junior, G. (2024). The Role of Self-Study in Addressing Competency Decline among Airline Pilots during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Human factors, 66(3), 807-817. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1177/00187208221113614
Moleong, L. (2017). Metode Penelitian Kualitatif. Remaja Rosdakarya Offset, cetakan ke-36.
Nunes, A., & Cabon, P. (2015). The Fatigue Conundrum: Whether It's Mild Sleepiness or Mind-Numbing Exhaustion, the Challenge of Fatigue on the Job can be Complex, Dangerous, and Surprisingly Difficult to Manage. American Scientist, 103(3), 218-224.
Olaganathan, R., Holt, T. B., Luedtke, J., & Bowen, B. D. (2021). Fatigue and Its Management in the Aviation Industry, with Special Reference to Pilots. Journal of Aviation Technology and Engineering, 10(1), 45. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.7771/2159-6670.1208
Pradana, I. P. Y. B., Kumorotomo, W., & Susanto, E. (2023). The institutionalization of public innovation: Evidence from Indonesia. Administration and Society, 55(4), 726-751. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1177/00953997231151438
Shanmugam, A., & Paul Robert, T. (2015). Human Factors Engineering in Aircraft Maintenance: A Review. Journal of Quality in Maintenance Engineering, 21(4), 478-505. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1108/JQME-05-2013-0030
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Sieberichs, S., Corrigan, S., & McDonald, N. (2024). How Pilot Fatigue Affects Operational Flight Risk in Scheduled Commercial Aviation. Aviation Psychology and Applied Human Factors. https://doi.org/https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1027/2192-0923/a000274
Stolzer, A. J., Sumwalt, R. L., & Goglia, J. J. (2023). Safety Management Systems in Aviation. CRC Press.
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Sugiyono, P. (2014). Metode Penelitian Kombinasi (Mixed Methods). Alfabeta, CV, 12.
Supardam, D., Surtiningtyas, S. R., Rifai, M., & Prayitno, H. (2025). Analysis of The Graduates' Requirement of Aviation Vocational Colleges in Indonesia. Langit Biru: Jurnal Ilmiah Aviasi, 18(2), 66-79. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.54147/langitbiru.v18i2.1276
Tiftik, C., & Yakupoğlu, E. (2023). The Importance of Aviation Safety in Terms of Human Resources Management in Air Cargo Transportation. Uluslararası Sosyal Bilimler ve Eğitim Dergisi, 5(8), 125-146. https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/usbed/issue/74063/1207154
Tuncal, A., & Altıntaş, O. A. (2025). Human Factors in Aviation and Aerospace. Human Factors in Aviation. https://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.26650/hfaa.2025.1633491
Valenta, V. (2018). Effects of Airline Industry Growth on Pilot Training. MAD-Magazine of Aviation Development, 6(4), 52-56. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.14311/MAD.2018.04.06
Vural, S. (2023). Why Are Flight Psychologists Important to Flight Safety? Journal of Aviation, 7(1), 156-160. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.30518/jav.1220425
Zimmermann, N., Wang, P. H., & Pullen, K. (2022). Fatigue in Aircraft Maintenance Technician Schools. International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace, 9(4), 7. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.58940/2374-6793.1756
Adrienne, N., Budd, L., & Ison, S. (2020). Grounded Aircraft: An Airfield Operations Perspective of the Challenges of Resuming Flights Post COVID. Journal of Air Transport Management, 89, 101921. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jairtraman.2020.101921
Association, E. C. (2023). Concerns of Fatigue and Related Hazards are Alarming for European Pilots. Aero News Journal. https://www.aeronewsjournal.com/2023/08/concerns-of-fatigue-and-related-hazards.html
Boeing. (2023). Boeing Releases 2023 Pilot and Technician Outlook. https://pathwaystoaviation.org/2023/08/01/boeing-releases-2023-pilot-and-technician-outlook/#:~:text=Boeing%20released%20its%20annual%20Pilot%20and%20Technician%20Outlook.,938%2C000%20cabin%20crewmembers%20over%20the%20next%2020%20years.
Cahill, J., Cullen, P., Anwer, S., Gaynor, K., & Wilson, S. (2020). The Requirements for New Tools for Use by Pilots and the Aviation Industry to Manage Risks Pertaining to Work-Related Stress (WRS) and Wellbeing, and the Ensuing Impact on Performance and Safety. Technologies, 8(3), 40. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.3390/technologies8030040
Cahyadi, C. I., Oka, I. G. A. A. M., & Masito, F. (2022). The Importance of Aviation Vocational Education in Indonesia. AL-ISHLAH: Jurnal Pendidikan, 14(2), 1869-1878. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.35445/alishlah.v14i2.1257
Caldwell, J. A. (2005). Fatigue in Aviation. Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease, 3(2), 85-96. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmaid.2004.07.008
Cao, K., Zhang, Y., & Feng, J. (2024). Prediction of Training Cost and Difficulty for Aircraft-Type Transition Based on Similarity Assessment. Aerospace, 11(2), 166. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace11020166
Cheng, C.-B., & Shyur, H.-J. (2025). Introduction to Flight Safety. In Flight Safety Management: Quantitative and AI Approaches (pp. 1-17). Springer. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-96-1235-2_1
Council, N. R. (2002). Future Flight. National Academy Press.
Creswell, J. W., & Plano Clark, V. (2023). Revisiting Mixed Methods Research Designs Twenty Years Later. Handbook of Mixed Methods Research Designs, 1(1), 21-36. https://www.torrossa.com/en/resources/an/5730651#page=56
Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2016). Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design: Choosing among Five Approaches. Sage publications.
da Silva, J. C., Barqueira, A., Magalhães, L. B., & Santos, L. F. (2024a). Human Fatigue in the Aircraft Maintenance Environment. Safety Science, 180, 106634. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2024.106634
da Silva, J. C., Barqueira, A., Magalhães, L. B., & Santos, L. F. (2024b). Insight into Human Fatigue: Statistical Analysis in Aircraft Maintenance. ICASS-Congress_Italy. https://www.icas.org/icas_archive/icas2024/data/papers/icas2024_0131_paper.pdf
Darjono, W. (2025). Pilot Langka, Teknisi Lelah: Ancaman Nyata di Balik Layar Penerbangan. Kompasiana. https://www.kompasiana.com/wisnu22432/68817a7cc925c4079717ce92/pilot-langka-teknisi-lelah-ancaman-nyaya-di-balik-layar-penerbangan
Demirok, A., Bagherpour, M., & Ulgen, S. (2025). Enhancing Human Resource Management in the Aviation Sector: A Comprehensive Analysis. Global Joint Conference on Industrial Engineering and Its Application Areas,
DGCA. (2025). Aviation Watchdog Issues Draft Guidelines for Fatigue Risk Management in Airlines.
Dinçer, F. C. Y., & Yirmibeşoğlu, G. (2024). Constraints on Women Pilots in Airline Industry: A Rising Sector of International Trade. Journal of Air Transport Management, 115, 102538. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jairtraman.2024.102538
Dube, K. (2022). Emerging from the COVID-19 Pandemic: Aviation Recovery, Challenges and Opportunities. Aerospace, 10(1), 19. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace10010019
Erenay, B., Kibis, E., Cankaya, B., Cosgun, O., & Glassman, A. (2024). Navigating Airline Disruptions with Strategic Pilot Planning: An Optimization Approach for Long-Term Workforce Efficiency and Service Quality. Journal of Marketing Analytics, 1-17. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1057/s41270-024-00343-w
FAA. (2022). Fatigue Risk Management. https://www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/maintenance_hf/fatigue
Garcia, R. C., Pongkrapan, W., Sacares, R., & Surinta, N. (2018). Human Resource Availability Situation of Airline Companies in Thailand. Available at SSRN 3308092. https://doi.org/https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3308092
Hobbs, A. (2008). An Overview of Human Factors in Aviation Maintenance. ATSB Safty Report, Aviation Research and Analysis Report AR, 55(2008), 1-37. http://www.dviaviation.com/files/45147577.pdf
ICAO. (2022). Annex 14 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation: Aerodromes (Vol. I, 8th ed.). International Civil Aviation Organization, Montreal, 13(03), 34-38.
Keller, J., Mendonca, F., Cutter, J., Suckow, M., & Dillman, B. (2020). Justification and Development of Competencies to Transform a Collegiate Aviation Flight Program. The Journal of Competency‐Based Education, 5(3), e01216. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/cbe2.1216
Lee, S., & Kim, J. K. (2018). Factors Contributing to the Risk of Airline Pilot Fatigue. Journal of Air Transport Management, 67, 197-207. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jairtraman.2017.12.009
Li, Y., & He, J. (2024). A Review of Strategies to Detect Fatigue and Sleep Problems in Aviation: Insights from Artificial Intelligence. Archives of Computational Methods in Engineering, 31(8), 4655-4672. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1007/s11831-024-10123-5
Miller, M., Mrusek, B., Herbic, J., & Garcia, P. A. A. (2023). Managing fatigue in aviation maintenance while promoting a human factors safety reporting system; a strategic approach to aviation safety. Safety Management and Human Factors, 105(1), 54-63.
Mizzi, A., Lohmann, G., & Carim Junior, G. (2024). The Role of Self-Study in Addressing Competency Decline among Airline Pilots during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Human factors, 66(3), 807-817. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1177/00187208221113614
Moleong, L. (2017). Metode Penelitian Kualitatif. Remaja Rosdakarya Offset, cetakan ke-36.
Nunes, A., & Cabon, P. (2015). The Fatigue Conundrum: Whether It's Mild Sleepiness or Mind-Numbing Exhaustion, the Challenge of Fatigue on the Job can be Complex, Dangerous, and Surprisingly Difficult to Manage. American Scientist, 103(3), 218-224.
Olaganathan, R., Holt, T. B., Luedtke, J., & Bowen, B. D. (2021). Fatigue and Its Management in the Aviation Industry, with Special Reference to Pilots. Journal of Aviation Technology and Engineering, 10(1), 45. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.7771/2159-6670.1208
Pradana, I. P. Y. B., Kumorotomo, W., & Susanto, E. (2023). The institutionalization of public innovation: Evidence from Indonesia. Administration and Society, 55(4), 726-751. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1177/00953997231151438
Shanmugam, A., & Paul Robert, T. (2015). Human Factors Engineering in Aircraft Maintenance: A Review. Journal of Quality in Maintenance Engineering, 21(4), 478-505. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1108/JQME-05-2013-0030
Shappell, S., Detwiler, C., Holcomb, K., Hackworth, C., Boquet, A., & Wiegmann, D. A. (2017). Human error and commercial aviation accidents: an analysis using the human factors analysis and classification system. In Human error in aviation (pp. 73-88). Routledge.
Sieberichs, S., Corrigan, S., & McDonald, N. (2024). How Pilot Fatigue Affects Operational Flight Risk in Scheduled Commercial Aviation. Aviation Psychology and Applied Human Factors. https://doi.org/https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1027/2192-0923/a000274
Stolzer, A. J., Sumwalt, R. L., & Goglia, J. J. (2023). Safety Management Systems in Aviation. CRC Press.
Subrahmanyam, S. (2025). The Importance of Qualitative Research in the Aviation Industry. In Qualitative Research Methods in Air Transport Management (pp. 1-26). IGI Global Scientific Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4018/979-8-3693-7403-0.ch001
Sugiyono, P. (2014). Metode Penelitian Kombinasi (Mixed Methods). Alfabeta, CV, 12.
Supardam, D., Surtiningtyas, S. R., Rifai, M., & Prayitno, H. (2025). Analysis of The Graduates' Requirement of Aviation Vocational Colleges in Indonesia. Langit Biru: Jurnal Ilmiah Aviasi, 18(2), 66-79. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.54147/langitbiru.v18i2.1276
Tiftik, C., & Yakupoğlu, E. (2023). The Importance of Aviation Safety in Terms of Human Resources Management in Air Cargo Transportation. Uluslararası Sosyal Bilimler ve Eğitim Dergisi, 5(8), 125-146. https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/usbed/issue/74063/1207154
Tuncal, A., & Altıntaş, O. A. (2025). Human Factors in Aviation and Aerospace. Human Factors in Aviation. https://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.26650/hfaa.2025.1633491
Valenta, V. (2018). Effects of Airline Industry Growth on Pilot Training. MAD-Magazine of Aviation Development, 6(4), 52-56. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.14311/MAD.2018.04.06
Vural, S. (2023). Why Are Flight Psychologists Important to Flight Safety? Journal of Aviation, 7(1), 156-160. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.30518/jav.1220425
Zimmermann, N., Wang, P. H., & Pullen, K. (2022). Fatigue in Aircraft Maintenance Technician Schools. International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace, 9(4), 7. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.58940/2374-6793.1756
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Published
2026-02-10
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TU WD, Arinta FK, Fachri Muhammad Rasyid. Pilot Shortage and Technician Fatigue: Safety Risk Analysis And Policy Implications for Indonesia’s Post-Pandemic Aviation Industry. JIA [Internet]. 2026 Feb. 10 [cited 2026 May 7];19(1):01-9. Available from: https://jurnal.overthinkingku.com/index.php/jurnal-ilmiah-aviasi/article/view/1545
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