US ATCOs caught on camera apparently sleeping, texting

[Buster the Bear]

Air Traffic Controllers Caught On Camera Apparently Sleeping, Texting | Fox News (http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/02/25/air-traffic-controllers-caught-on-camera-apparently-sleeping-texting/)

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

Done it thousands of times. Just because someone is "on duty" doesn't mean they're actually working. Three major places I worked required 24 hr ATC cover but from midnight to 5am there was little or no traffic so I and my colleagues would sit at the desk having a snooze, reading a book..... maybe play games (Formula 1 was favourite at one unit). What do you expect... controllers to sit staring at radar tubes all night?

[ron83]

+1 to HD.:ok:

Or walk around a bit to stretch legs...

[Andy Mayes]

Hope I don't get caught posting on PPRuNe!;)

[mad_jock]

The daft thing is that any activity which stimulates the mind is a good thing in periods of low activity while on duty especially out side normaly awake periods.

[le Pingouin]

Fark! You mean I'm not a mindless automaton?

[Talkdownman]

Outrageous, sleeping whilst texting...but the resultant content might stand one in good stead to become a tabloid journalist...

[cjlar]

If it's FOX it must be true??

[Lon More]

I used to snore loudly on the Sup. position. Guaranteed to keep the rest awake.

[Vercingetorix]

There was a chap at LATCC who used to vector the planes around his book 'cos the flat top radars made an ideal book rest. T'was a long time ago on Brs/Stu.:ok:

[Talkdownman]

BRS/STU was once an ideal place to go for a little doze. I thought that was why some folk went down there...either that or FIR North...
Fox News wouldn't be too enamoured to learn of ATCOs selling honey or cheesecloth shirts then...

[Gulfstreamaviator]

Often slept while on duty....

shoot me please...

glf

[Sir Herbert Gussett]

Crumbs, how do Americans put up with such irritating television. :ugh::hmm:

[JustaFew]

Sleeping AND texting...isn't that multitasking, a requirement of the job? :)

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

I worked with a guy at Heathrow who used to bring a knitting machine in for night duties. He'd clamp it to the radar console and belt away all night!

[kontrolor]

:yuk: fox news....

[ILS 119.5]

When I worked at LATCC and LHR we had beds, it's a shame that the poor guys in the USA have to sleep in their chairs, how uncomfortable. I remember one guy at LATCC used to get into a sleeping bag whilst on the console. It was the middle of the night though and no traffic only the cleaners kept him awake.

"There was a chap at LATCC who used to vector the planes around his book 'cos the flat top radars made an ideal book rest. T'was a long time ago on Brs/Stu."

When we all (a lot of us) wore shirts and ties for work; I've seen people vector around their tie as it was lying across the radar

[Jay Doubleyou]

Too damned comfortable, someone forgot to call me off a long-sleep and I awoke in full daylight then walked into the ops room to a sea of strange faces, sorry "A" watch!

[ILS 119.5]

At LATCC we had to call one of the chiefs one night in his room and the phone was answered by a female!! Not always sleeping then!!