Embry-Riddle Worldwide Master's Graduate Develops AI Scheduling Tool to Identify Pilot Fatigue

For Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University graduate Favour Obarewon, scheduling is critical.

As a flight instructor, he continually ensures the safety of his students, his assigned aircraft and himself. He also recently completed an M.S. in Aeronautics with a specialization in Aviation Safety through Embry-Riddle’s Worldwide Campus, where he researched ways to strengthen aviation safety among Part 141 flight instructors. That research included a better understanding of pilot fatigue.

“As a pilot, you have to do your safety checklists,” Obarewon said. “One of the items is fatigue, but people can find it hard to accurately report that.”

Obarewon believes one solution may lie in using artificial intelligence to assist with pilot scheduling. He showcased his idea as part of the third annual Safety Research Symposium hosted by the Boeing Center for Aviation & Aerospace Safety

After completing a literature review of existing research on pilot fatigue, Obarewon surveyed a small group of colleagues to learn more about their experiences with scheduling and scheduling’s impact on their energy levels.

“I asked them questions like, ‘How important is scheduling to you? How is your schedule set? How do you feel after working for X number of hours?’” Obarewon said.

Equipped with that information, he created digital scheduling software capable of identifying flight instructors who were potentially fatigued and needed a rest period. The tool is partially modeled on systems in use at major airlines.

“A lot of people agree that we can make scheduling better, but while we’re making it better, we can also add a layer of fatigue monitor,” Obarewon said. The software’s AI-powered monitoring function was on display at the Safety Research Symposium.

Obarewon, who next plans to test his software with a larger pool of flight instructors, said he came away with valuable experience sharing his work as one of almost a dozen poster presentations at the event. It also offered a valuable opportunity to network with aviation safety leaders and researchers.

This year’s symposium — open to faculty, staff, students and industry — included 17 panel sessions and a lunch designed to connect attendees with others who shared their research interests. Panel sessions explored novel approaches to aviation safety, the impact of safety culture on the aviation and aerospace industries, and methods for leveraging the growing fields of data analytics and AI.    

“Projects like Favour's are exactly why we hold this symposium,” Dr. Kristy Kiernan, associate professor and associate director of the Boeing Center for Aviation and Aerospace Safety, said. “To bring our students and faculty together to explore novel solutions to problems they see in our industry.”