Alertness CRC Project Leader Dr Tracey Sletten, one of the researchers on the flight, explained the key factors they will be assessing pilots and crew members on, including sleepiness and alertness, reports Business Insider.

One of the biggest factors the researchers will be looking into is the impact on sleep.

Sletten said they will be looking at how long someone has been awake, how much sleep they’ve had and their biological timing – “what time it is according to their body clock compared to when they’re awake”.

“The interaction of the three of those we know has a huge impact on their alertness at different points,” Sletten said. “And so with a longer flight – normally a longer period of duty – you might be at increased risks of sleepiness.”