Sleeping air traffic controllers

[QueenBee]

Yet another has been caught asleep. http://www.cnn.com/2011/TRAVEL/04/16/air...tml?hpt=T1

Does it seem like this is happening more often of late? Or are more just getting caught. Do you feel less safe about flying? Do you feel there should always be more than one on duty overnights?
From experience I know that it is tough staying away third shift...especially if there is not enough happening to keep you occupied. You do not sleep well..or enough.
Some controllers have spoken of having to work 8 hours on, 8 off and then back on again. Definatly NOT enough time to wind down from a stressful job, plus get enough rest.

[IMaDick]

I get fired if I go to sleep on the job, and no ones life depends on me being awake.

[SIXFOOTERsez]

I don't think its happening any more often than a couple months ago, they are just getting cought more because some one is looking. Which points out all the more how stupid some of these folks are. This is a government job, good for life, which is to say a Skilled Entitlement job, like a union job. Yes, its hard to stay awake on 3^rd shift, I have done a lot of it myself, but for fux sake, the world is watching, wake your ass up.
I feel safe enough, not likely to be flying into someplace with a podunk airport any time soon.

[QueenBee]

I get fired if I go to sleep on the job, and no ones life depends on me being awake.

Good point, Dick. I would have as well....wonder why these guys were just suspended....Makes you wonder about the union contract here.

[IMaDick]

I don't think its happening any more often than a couple months ago, they are just getting cought more because some one is looking. Which points out all the more how stupid some of these folks are. This is a government job, good for life, which is to say a Skilled Entitlement job, like a union job. Yes, its hard to stay awake on 3^rd shift, I have done a lot of it myself, but for fux sake, the world is watching, wake your ass up.
I feel safe enough, not likely to be flying into someplace with a podunk airport any time soon.

Las Vegas and Washington DC can hardly be considered podunk airports.

[username]

I read today that often, if there are 2 controllers on a night shift, they'll take turns sleeping (even though they're not supposed to). So what happens if the one that's supposed to be awake accidentally nods off?

I definitely think they should be fired.

[SIXFOOTERsez]

True that

[shitstorm]

I was stunned when I learned that even at major airports only one ATC is on duty over night. I used to work in airport and I never knew that. Considering how crucial the job is, and how high stress it is, I think there should be a minimum of three on duty at all times. On top of that I heard that pilots were just given an extra hour between flights. Now they get nine hours off between flights instead of eight!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WTF? Are you fucking kidding me? You land the plane, have to get to the hotel, eat dinner, shower, relax a bit, sleep, get a ride back to the airport and check in - all in nine hours?! I had a job where I worked 12 hour shifts (12 on, 12 off) and I was exhausted. I sure as hell don't want sleep deprived pilots and ATCs responsible for my life.

[Duchess]

This is going to help me overcome my fear of flying. Now, instead of worrying about crashing into a mountainside, the only only thing I have to concern myself with is landing, taking off & mid-air collisions.

[Carsman]

This is going to help me overcome my fear of flying. Now, instead of worrying about crashing into a mountainside, the only only thing I have to concern myself with is landing, taking off & mid-air collisions.

Yep, that's why you should get shitfaced to fly like I ued to do. That's until you can get used to it again (like before 911) without doing so. After a few flghts again, you'll see it's not so bad.

Now I do have to admit, I do pray (don't know why, not really that religious) during 5 minutes of take off, & landing. During the flight, now that's still a little up for grabs. Mostly good, even through turbulance, so . . . . . . . .

[Cynical Ninja]

FFS.

Do they not get enough time to sleep when they are not at work?

[thekid65]

From what I've read.. and I've been there back in my younger days...they have some of these fuckers working different shifts during the week.

When I was a short order cook, one of the joints I worked at had me on 2 day shifts, 2 swing shifts, and one graveyard....I never fucking knew when to sleep, it was brutal.

With that being said, I never fell asleep OTJ, and if I did, I would expect nothing less then to be canned. Even though the worst that could happen would be that some fucker didnt get his meal at 3am....no potential of multiple loss of life.

This whole deal does nothing to help the unions (public employee) that are crying like bitches as they lose their benefits, and almost guaranteed job security. Fuck'em.

[username]

FFS.

Do they not get enough time to sleep when they are not at work?

That may be part of the problem. I read that sometimes they only get 8 hours off between shifts. The FAA is, of course, "investigating".

[QueenBee]

NEW RULESWashington (CNN) -- Air traffic controllers are facing a slew of new rules aimed at preventing them from falling asleep while on duty, the government announced Sunday.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said the Federal Aviation Administration and the Air Traffic Controllers Union agreed to implement the changes effective immediately, following a series of recent incidents involving sleeping air traffic controllers.

Air traffic control staffing under scrutiny

Controllers will now have a minimum of nine hours off between shifts, instead of the current eight-hour minimum, LaHood said. That will apply when they swap shifts as well. Controllers can no longer be put on an unscheduled midnight shift following a day off.

FAA managers will schedule their own shifts in a way to ensure greater coverage in the early morning and late night hours as well, LaHood said.



Another flight controller asleep on duty On Saturday, the FAA suspended yet another air traffic controller for sleeping on the job, the seventh apparent incident this year the agency has disclosed.

[shitstorm]

Why the hell aren't they on for 8 and off for 16 like most jobs? Nine hours is not enough and it indicates rotating shifts which confuses the body clock and makes people tired. ATC is a very high stress profession and special care should be taken to make sure nothing adds to the possibility of exhaustion and deadly mistakes. I can't understand this, at all.

[QueenBee]

I agree..this is nuts. Wow..a whole extra hour off. I mean, what about the people who have a bit of a commute to work? Lets say they drive 45 minutes one way to work..that is an hour and a half a day just driving.
MY job is no where near that stress level, but even I need tome to wind down after work...plus the other things I do during my time off....shopping, cooking, or just plain wanting to spend time with friends.
It sucks. And tghey wonder why some jobs have high burn out rates.

[IMaDick]

It's because of the rotating shifts, they work two early two late and are off for 4 days.

More than likely they don't even go home until their days off, they sleep in the lounge that the airport provides for them.

[shitstorm]

One has to wonder why airports and the FAA deliberately set up schedules that run counter to the needs of the human body and are dangerous for air travelers. Why not three shifts - 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd, like many other jobs? Saving money, probably, which is hilarious when the wastes of skin occupying bureaucratic jobs are so overpaid and get tons of time off.

[QueenBee]

Well, since they cannot sleep, these guys said "Fuck it, we are gonna watch a movie." Thing is, the movie soundtrack played for 3 minutes or so over the air, so that pilots were not able to communicate with them

http://www.cnn.com/2011/TRAVEL/04/19/air...tml?hpt=T2