Air Traffic Controllers

[Buster]

Third air traffic controller fired for sleeping​

"A third air traffic controller has been fired for sleeping on the job, even as some say naps should be allowed during working hours to enhance controller attentiveness.
The termination of the controller followed several highly publicized incidents that have included sleeping controllers, an unresponsive controller watching a movie in Ohio, and an aborted landing of first lady Michelle Obama's plane at Andrews Air Force Base.
The Boeing Field controller in Seattle fired this week fell asleep twice in recent months, once in January and once on April 11, according to a Federal Aviation Administration statement."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110426/ts_nm/us_faa_firing

 

[clester]

Third air traffic controller fired for sleeping​

"A third air traffic controller has been fired for sleeping on the job, even as some say naps should be allowed during working hours to enhance controller attentiveness.
The termination of the controller followed several highly publicized incidents that have included sleeping controllers, an unresponsive controller watching a movie in Ohio, and an aborted landing of first lady Michelle Obama's plane at Andrews Air Force Base.
The Boeing Field controller in Seattle fired this week fell asleep twice in recent months, once in January and once on April 11, according to a Federal Aviation Administration statement."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110426/ts_nm/us_faa_firing

They didn't say if it was a mid shift. I noticed their fix was more supervisors. Who's going to keep them awake?

Most sleep experts (from Harvard etc) say that you cannot will yourself to stay awake and that short naps during breaks improve performance.

Sleep deprivation is a sort of torture that is used in interrogating prisoners.

What is needed IMO is anything you need to stay awake during the mid dead times should be allowed like music, tv, Cat naps during breaks.

But, hey if we privatize it then everything will be ok!

Btw, Lahood is lost! He has no idea what to do. Maybe if we threaten to fire everyone who sleeps? Let's try that.

 

[Buster]

After careful considerations to everything Clester points out..and they are VERY GOOD points..I change my poll choice to #3...This should also be an allowed policy/practice for the AF empoyees as well...they work long grueling shifts too at Wide area-Super Tracons and ARTCC's.

 

[Silverbird]

I think the problem is you should never have just one person on site for air traffic control. Sleep aside, what about bathroom breaks? Lunch breaks? Even us desk jockeys are supposed to get intermittent 15 minute breaks (ok, not everyone takes them, but we do have the right to take them), and we don't cause near misses with airplanes if we are not alert.

 

[weatherweenie]

I think the problem is you should never have just one person on site for air traffic control. Sleep aside, what about bathroom breaks? Lunch breaks? Even us desk jockeys are supposed to get intermittent 15 minute breaks (ok, not everyone takes them, but we do have the right to take them), and we don't cause near misses with airplanes if we are not alert.

Aside from midnight shifts, the FAA staffs for the worst case scenario at all times.

That results in controllers working as little as 5-10 minutes on position before they are given a 20-30 minute break. They don't work, by contract, any more than 2 hours on position before receiving a break.

Whether you think that level of staffing is prudent, or wasteful, you decide.

 

[clester]

Aside from midnight shifts, the FAA staffs for the worst case scenario at all times.

That results in controllers working as little as 5-10 minutes on position before they are given a 20-30 minute break. They don't work, by contract, any more than 2 hours on position before receiving a break.

Whether you think that level of staffing is prudent, or wasteful, you decide.

Partly true. We are staffed based on the busiest times which means you have more than need during slow times. But, the 2 hour rule is now just "try to give a break"

This brings up another point. Trust me, you don't want a controller on position that long. Your concentration level goes down and the chances of making a mistake go up. More breaks during slow times is actually a good thing. Studies show that a bored controller is dangerous. This is part of the problem on mids.

 

[jdphx]

Aside from midnight shifts, the FAA staffs for the worst case scenario at all times.

That results in controllers working as little as 5-10 minutes on position before they are given a 20-30 minute break. They don't work, by contract, any more than 2 hours on position before receiving a break.

Whether you think that level of staffing is prudent, or wasteful, you decide.

Trust me.... not every place has staffing like this. Working short is a reality
for many. When 2 or 3 call in sick, the FAA does not always call in overtime.
(gotta watch the bottom line!) Sometimes the entire roster gets called for OT, and nobody takes it!!

Clester is right on point also. MOST errors occur during very slow traffic periods. When it is "white knuckle" time, and traffic is humping, the adrenaline is flowing and we are at the top of our game. The numbers back this up.

Denver Center must be lucky/unlucky (you decide) that they have plenty of staffing???

 

[Buster]

WHEW!..man what a time..wonder if he ever got a chance to take a breath?

The following is not BS, it is real normal daily activity.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQDmwAbWv_4

 

[driz]

AMEN brother!

I have worked the last 15yrs at an FAA Center.

The arrogance of the controllers is amazing.

Another serious problem is the number of controllers retiring. To combat this, the FAA is pushing through new controllers that have no business controlling aircraft.

The number of controller errors in the last few years, with new controllers, is mind boggling.

One trainer told me he couldn't put any negative comments on his trainees report form. The reason? The FAA essentially needs the warm body.

Quantity, not quality.


This about sums it all up perfectly. When you have a job that pays this much with that retirement system and you can't keep employees there is something seriously wrong. What's the bet it's under staffing and micromanagement? I am surprised they haven't started putting video feeds watching everybody all recorded forever to some building in DC like CBP does. Of course they could just rig up something that sounds a loud tone when a call goes unanswered a couple of times. That would take care of nearly all the problems. Of course that could never happen because then management would be "condoning " it which would make them responsible so no viable solution will be offered. They will just do like CBP and resort to the old standby of threats and intimidation and nothing gets realistically addressed.
Without being able to so much as watch a dvd or browse the net who could possibly sit there in front of that screen and not sometimes go into a coma? Where I work we move every 2 hours or less inside outside or to another station which helps a lot. How anyone can sit for hours in front of one of those scopes with nothing to do without falling asleep is beyond me. I have worked nights for the last 21 years straight and I very much doubt I could do it. Perhaps some of those upper managers should give it a try and see how they do. They might learn something.