A trainee pilot flew unconscious for about 40 minutes through controlled airspace above Adelaide airport, after he skipped breakfast on the morning of the flight.
Air traffic control made several attempts to contact the pilot, who was flying on autopilot from Port Augusta to Parafield on a morning in early March, but he did not respond.
Another plane in the area was enlisted to help and reported the pilot had regained consciousness over water south-west of the city.
A report on the incident released by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau says controllers finally made radio contact and helped the pilot land safely at Parafield.
It was not made clear whether he fell asleep or fainted during the journey.
The flight school will now require students to record their sleep patterns and meals, after the pilot reported he had not eaten breakfast before a flight from Parafield to Port Augusta earlier that morning.
"During the flight, the pilot only consumed a bottle of Gatorade, some water and a chocolate bar during the stopover in Port Augusta," the report says.
"The pilot advised that the night prior to the flight he had suffered from a restless night of sleep and was recovering from a mild cold."
The ATSB said the incident highlights the importance of pilots assessing their ability to fly, and taking responsibility for their own health and wellbeing.
It said the flight school, which was not named in the report, had advised it will also provide more guidance regarding sleeping patterns and a safety briefing to reiterate the importance of fatigue management.
