There’s been a lot of talk about the new government imposed changes to air traffic controllers’ schedules. I touched on the some of them in a previous post, but failed to go in-depth regarding the fact that controllers can no longer switch schedules “in order for the convenience of them if they are not well-rested.” That’s according to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.
During his recent press conference LaHood also mentioned that he would not allow controllers to take naps on the job, despite ongoing input by sleep experts that doing so would benefit overnight workers. Experts from the FAA and National Air Traffic Controllers cited Germany and Japan as role models for the nap provision saying that both countries provide sleeping rooms for nighttime controllers on break. As it stands now FAA rules forbid any sleeping on the job, even during breaks. According to LaHood, air traffic controllers who violate the rule are subject to termination.
But here’s something the majority of the traveling public doesn’t know: Depending on his rotation, an air traffic controller can get off at 2 p.m. and be scheduled to work again at 10 p.m. the same day. How can anyone get a decent amount of sleep with that schedule?
Members of the FAA and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association recently disclosed to media outlets that the most tiring schedules worked by controllers is “a week of midnight shifts, followed by a week of early morning shifts and then a week of swing shifts that start in the afternoon and wind up at night.”
It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that working a constantly changing schedule doesn’t give controllers ample time to adjust to a consistent sleep schedule.
And the country is shocked to hear that air traffic controllers are falling asleep on the job? One look at their schedule and you can see why it’s happening so frequently.
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