Are you fatigued?
Dear All,
The subject of Fatigue has been brought up in another thread and I'd be interested to know YOUR experiences / perception of the issue.
It's only the first week of July and I am finding that after a complete LATCC cycle I am completely knackered. Three days off and I'm just about recovered, only to go and do it all again. With leave being somewhat restricted this year I wonder how long it will be before I have to ring the ORO hotline to report unfit for duty?
NATS management have intimated that they feel they've already addressed the issue (see the incomplete LMQ reply) but do YOU think it's being taken seriously?
I'm also very interested in how people feel at other units, especially Scottish (domestic and the ocean), Manchester, Heathrow and Gatwick, and indeed, at any UK ATCU, NATS or non NATS.
As I have written elsewhere the rise in sickness rates this summer was entirely predictable. For NATS management, specifically at LATCC, to claim in a letter to the airlines that "we have enough staff to run LATCC and for OCT commitments" is disingenuous to say the least. If I was the CEO of a UK airline I'd be asking "Where are your contigency staff for LATCC when you get sickness?" The TRUTHFUL, but unpalatable, answer is simple. We haven't got any.
I look forward to your replies
Rgds BEX