During a long search lasting more than five hours, how often should radar use be rotated to mitigate fatigue?

• A. Every 30 minutes
• B. Every 1 to 2 hours
• C. Every 3 to 4 hours
• D. Only when prompted

Answer: (B)

Fatigue management in long radar operations relies on rotating duties to maintain vigilance and reduce monotony. Rotating radar responsibilities every 1 to 2 hours provides a practical balance: it gives operators a chance to rest briefly while ensuring someone fresh is actively monitoring, which helps preserve situational awareness and detection performance. If rotations happen too frequently, such as every 30 minutes, handovers become disruptive and the operator’s mental model of the radar picture can degrade. Waiting 3 to 4 hours between rotations allows fatigue to build, increasing the likelihood of missed threats or slower reactions. Rotating only when prompted is unreliable in high-stakes monitoring, since prompts may be missed or delayed.