Air traffic zzzzz AGAIN??

[kmitch200]

Flipping news channels this morning and saw a report that said ATC in Miami snoozing.
WTF?? With all the latest publicity they are still falling asleep?  

The talking head said that the ATC rotate schedules.
One (unk) time period you work mornings or day shift, then evening, then nights. When someone said that was the problem, a "study" was cited that it was safer than having someone working set schedules.

Well I call bullshit on this "study". Put the night owls on nights and put the morning people on days.
Around the country docs and nurses work set night schedules and they don't fall asleep! My wife (BSN) works 4pm to 2am in a peds ED. When she picks up an extra day shift she is wasted for at least a day until she resets her 'clock'.
I am a night owl. My old medic partner was a morning person. In the mornings, he was chipper and I was dragging. At 3am, I was ready, willing and able and he was dragging.

If you work nights, you can at least drink some coffee knowing that you won't be dying to get some sleep shortly after your shift in order to switch over to days.
Ferchristsakes, prop an ice pick under your chin! That should keep you from nodding off!

    

[tombogan03884]

Remember when the ATC Union "PATCO" went on strike and Reagan fired them all and replaced them with Air Force ATC's ?
It was the safest 6 months in the history of commercial aviation in the US.
0 fatalities in 6 months.
Maybe we should do that again.

[TAB]

Just like doctors, thier weird hours and rotating shifts are to blame for this type of thing.

Not that there is any excuse for sleeping on the job.

but just think about this for a second. on monday you work the the day shift, tuesday night you work the night shift, wed back to the day shift, thrs, swing shift, fri grave yard.

[Timothy]

I worked these kinds of swing shifts for my four years of active duty in the Navy.  They were tough but we managed and we got our jobs done regardless of how whipped we were.  I have a good friend who's in the industry, in fact, he was just given a VP position within the Controllers Union.

He's visiting in June, I'd like to hear his perspective on this because though he's pro union (and I ain't), he's also an ex Navy ATC and takes the job quite seriously as he should.  From past conversations with him, he's told me that the FAA is replete with asshat middle and upper management who are far more dangerous than the average controller.

I'd trust this man with my life and the life of my family.

[jnevis]

NTSB has been telling the FAA that the work schedules for controllers have the potential to cause a problem with fatigue.  Since the NTSB doesn't have regulatory authority, it's up to the FAA to change, which they haven't.  This months Flying has a columnabout the schedules and fatigue.  Between tired pilots and exhuasted controllers it's a wonder we haven't had more accidents.
The article describes ann accident in August 06 in Lexington KY.  The crew had been typically on afternoon/evening runs and this flight was early morning.  They weren't 100% in the brief or procedures before taxi-ing.  The controller's schedule, IMO, SUCKED.

Wed 1700-0100, Thur 1500-2100, Fri 0815-1615, Sat 0630-1430, Sun 0000-0800

Note that most periods are at or less than 12hrs between them.  While he wasn't asleep, he was fatigued as the rest he did get was less than optimal.  The aircraft failed to acknowledge taxi/take off instructions and attempted to take off on a closed runway.  The crew or controller didn't recognize the impending situation in enough time to question and correct it.

[Sponsor]

[kmitch200]

The controller's schedule, IMO, SUCKED.

Wed 1700-0100, Thur 1500-2100, Fri 0815-1615, Sat 0630-1430, Sun 0000-0800

Incredible.
Between drive time, eating, seeing your family and just unwinding, there aren't enough hours in a week!
 
You can bet the farm that the idiot who made this schedule does not live on it.

[twyacht]

I figured the ATC union would regulate a more efficient and reasonable schedule, just like three shift jobs in the private sector.....

either that,....or hire MORE COMPETENT EMPLOYEES!!!!

This is not a "new" thing,......the light in our instant news world is just highlighting it now.,..,.,.,

[TAB]

I figured the ATC union would regulate a more efficient and reasonable schedule, just like three shift jobs in the private sector.....

either that,....or hire MORE COMPETENT EMPLOYEES!!!!
This is not a "new" thing,......the light in our instant news world is just highlighting it now.,..,.,.,

Its actually one of the hardest jobs to get.  there are 2 schools in the nation that teach it, both have a wash out rate of around 95%.  Thats people they gave the boot too, not those that quit.

[Timothy]

I figured the ATC union would regulate a more efficient and reasonable schedule, just like three shift jobs in the private sector.....

The problem with working a "normal" schedule is that the same people get stuck working the busiest times of each days flight schedules.  This type of schedule will burn out a controller in a very short period of time.  This job, according to my friend who's been doing it for 25 years or more, eats people at an alarming rate.  The stress of the job is enormous!

[Solus]

Visited a tower once back when I was getting my pilots license. 

It was a slow day but just watching the controllers deal with each plane entering/leaving their airspace was impressive. 

It reminded me of trying to juggle a dozen eggs...with each egg holding 100 lives.

Back then the room was pretty dark to minimize glare on the screens and except for the voices of the controllers it was quiet also.

Back then I played a simple ATC game and found it extremely challenging.

Was reminded of it and did a search.  Found one to try.  I have not played it, but I'd advise you to do the tutorial if you are interested.

http://www.atc-sim.com/