Survey Results
Survey Statistics
blank responses (1%)
THIS REPORT summarizes the health survey that was administered by your Pilot Assistance Committee via the sub-group “SOULY for YOU.” The survey was performed from August 17 until September 19, 2017. An invitation to participate in the survey was sent via e-mail from ALPA’s master e-mail list to all active FDX union pilots. In addition, a communication web banner was launched weekly through the online Positive Rate Weekly publication to encourage all pilots to participate. Your team at FDX ALPA analyzed the responses and is now providing you with a summary of the survey results. The report is intended as an initial high-level summary of the pilots who participated. Additional trend analyses will be conducted soon.
Basic Information
Age Groups
25-30 | Total = 7 (.8%)
31-36 | Total = 42 (4.8%)
37-45 | Total = 162 (18.7%)
46-56 | Total = 388 (44.7%)
57-65 | Total = 269 (31%)
How long have you been under a 121 certificate?
01-10 years | Total = 122 (14.1%)
11-15 Years | Total = 162 (18.7%)
16-20 Years | Total = 212 (24.4%)
20+ Years | Total = 366 (42.2%)
blank | Total = 6 (.6%)
How long have you been employed at FedEx?
Under 1 year | Total = 66 (7.6%)
1-10 Years | Total = 128 (14.7%)
11-15 Years | Total = 213 (24.4%)
16-20 Years | Total = 164 (18.9%)
20+ Years | Total = 294 (33.9%)
What types of trips do you typically fly?
| Type | Total | Total (%) |
| Domestic | 520 | 60.0% |
| International | 347 | 40.0% |
What time do you typically fly?
| Type | Total | Total (%) |
| Day | 268 | 31.5% |
| Night | 582 | 68.5% |
Sleep Responses
Do you wake up while sleeping?
| Response | Total | Total (%) |
| Yes | 720 | 82.9% |
| No | 135 | 15.6% |
| blank | 13 | 1.5% |
Do you have trouble sleeping?
| Response | Total | Total (%) |
| Yes | 439 | 50.6% |
| No | 413 | 47.6% |
| blank | 16 | 1.8% |
Distribution of responses
Of people who responded “DAY” for trip types,
39.6% indicated they DO have trouble sleeping
58.6% indicated they do NOT have trouble sleeping
Of people who responded “NIGHT” for trip types,
56.2% indicated they DO have trouble sleeping
42.2% indicated they do NOT have trouble sleeping
We provided space for pilots to provide explanations about their sleep problems as the average pilot does not fall explicitly into either the “day” or “night” flyer category and their work day spans both as well. As most do both, the majority selected what they do more of, typically. Even with the over-simplification of a pilot’s schedule, these are comments that were seen in dozens of times:
- Significant circadian rhythm shifts that lead to:
- Longer times to fall asleep
- Frequent sleep disruptions / broken sleep
- “Second wind” on days off keeps me awake with body thinking I’m getting ready to work
- Lack of consistency / impossible to keep a routine
- Light sleep and difficulty falling back asleep
- Need for supplements or sleep aids
Cancer Information
Have you ever been diagnosed with cancer?
| Reponse | Total | Total (%) |
| Yes | 87 | 9.9% |
| No | 778 | 89.6% |
| blank | 3 | .5% |
‘Yes’ Responses by Age Group
The numbers below represent a percentage of the total ‘yes’ responses per age group. This is non-scientific and based only on voluntarily reported instances in the survey.
31-36 | Total = 1 response yes
37-45 | Total = 9 responses yes
46-56 | Total = 33 responses yes
57-65 | Total = 44 responses yes
Of the 87 individual cancer instances reported, the distribution is displayed in the chart below. Keep in mind that this is voluntarily reported information from a self-selected online survey NOT a scientific poll / survey by an external entity.
Cancer type |
# of yes responses |
% of total yes responses |
| Basal cell / skin / melanoma | 50 | 57.5% of responses |
| Prostate | 6 | 6.9% of responses |
| Testicular | 6 | 6.9% of responses |
| Colon | 4 | 4.6% of responses |
| Thyroid | 3 | 3.4% of responses |
| Other | 18 | 20.7% of responses |
Cancers in the other category are single instances of bladder, breast, carcinoid, cervical, chondrosarcoma, myeloma, pancreatic, and uterine.
“Recent reports highlighting increased cancer incidence and mortality among airline pilots have raised concerns about potential exposure to known or suspected carcinogens, in particular cosmic ionizing radiation. Higher radiation dose rates are found at higher altitudes and in the polar regions, and mean doses to flight crew have been increasing over time as longer flights at higher altitudes have become more frequent. Other possible hazards that may play a role in cancer risk for flight crew include irregular working hours and disturbances of circadian rhythm.” – Cancer incidence in airline cabin crew — Whelan (found here)
Between 40 and 50 percent of Americans who live to age 65 will have either basal cell carcinoma (BCC) or squamous cell carcinoma at least once. BCC is the most common form of skin cancer.
About 1 man in 7 will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in his lifetime. About 6 cases in 10 are diagnosed in men aged 65 or older and it is rare before age 40.
Testicular cancer is rare, accounting for 1% of all male cancers. However, it is the most common form of cancer in men ages 15-35.
Colon cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in both men and women in the United States. The lifetime risk is about 4.7% in men and 4.4% in women.
Pregnancy Information
Have you ever been pregnant?
| Response | Total | Total (%) |
| Yes | 26 | 31.7% |
| No | 47 | 57.3% |
| blank | 8 | 11% |
Did you fly while pregnant?
| Response | Total | Total (%) |
| Yes | 21 | 80.8% |
| No | 4 | 15.4% |
| blank | 1 | 3.8% |
The Pilot Assistance Committee is trying to understand women’s experiences of maternity, maternity care and what really matters to women around the time of pregnancy, childbirth and the early months at home.
Currently, the female pilot population is around 200, however, 192 are actively flying the line.
Did you have pregnancy complications?
| Response | Total | Total (%) |
| Yes | 9 | 33.3% |
| No | 18 | 67.7% |
If so, which trimester did those complications present themselves?
| Response | Total |
| First | 3 |
| Second | 1 |
| Third | 3 |
| Blank | 2 |
Due to HIPAA laws, it is impossible to determine from 200 pilots what percent of females have experienced pregnancy. However, for this survey, 26 female pilots responded as having been pregnant, which is about 31.7% of female respondents and 13.5% of the actively flying female population at FedEx.
The information has been analyzed and will be used in future planning for maternity care at FedEx.