Minimum number of controllers in airfield tower
Mistrust in Management
Thread Starter
Minimum number of controllers in airfield tower
I had cause to visit the tower of a European airport tower the other day where I was surprised to find only one controller on duty. This airport is not always busy, but can be at times, handling jet traffic, turboprop traffic as well as light aircraft.
This controller was completely alone with no assistant. Mixed in with the traffic was a base training detail. He controlled departures and arrivals, apron and ground, clearance delivery, as well as traffic in the zone. Two frequencies and two telephones. He was working like a 'one armed paper hangar' with no back up or monitoring.
I asked the controller if he thought the practice of working alone was reasonable and he stated that he did not. It seems very odd to me that a person can work alone in such a safety critical operation. What happens when he needs a 'natural break'.
I am no expert in the field of ATC (I just use your normally excellent services) and wonder if anybody here can tell me what the rules are relating to minimum staffing levels in ATC units. Also it would be helpful if a hyperlink could be provided to point me in the right direction.
Thank you in advance.
Regards
Exeng
This controller was completely alone with no assistant. Mixed in with the traffic was a base training detail. He controlled departures and arrivals, apron and ground, clearance delivery, as well as traffic in the zone. Two frequencies and two telephones. He was working like a 'one armed paper hangar' with no back up or monitoring.
I asked the controller if he thought the practice of working alone was reasonable and he stated that he did not. It seems very odd to me that a person can work alone in such a safety critical operation. What happens when he needs a 'natural break'.
I am no expert in the field of ATC (I just use your normally excellent services) and wonder if anybody here can tell me what the rules are relating to minimum staffing levels in ATC units. Also it would be helpful if a hyperlink could be provided to point me in the right direction.
Thank you in advance.
Regards
Exeng
Ohcirrej
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A minimum number of ATCOs? Hmmmmmmm, best ask a certain airfield just down the road from Southampton. From what I hear, they're there at the moment, if not a little on the wrong side.
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ATCOs working hours are regulated by the appropriate aviation authority. I was an Aerodrome controller up until 4 years ago. An ATSU is able to combine the Aerodrome and Procedural Approach control functions provding it's not too busy, I'm doing area radar now so things may have changed but in those days, we wouldn't work more than 2 hours without a break of at least 30 minutes, this is inline wih SRATCOH (Scheme for the regulation of the Hours of Civil ATCOs in the UK) I think! You can view the entire Scheme for yourself on-line CAP670 in Part D, section 1, but beware, it's 1.9mb! Would be intrested to know which European unit it was that you visited. Last time I went into a tower, was at Manchester, there were more staff than aeroplanes, must have been for the very new shiny piece of tarmac!!!
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CAP670 provides a formula which takes into account the number of positions, hours the position will be available, breaks etc to provide a minimum number of ATCOs; but not support staff
(ATCAs). That is at the discretion of the ATS provider at the unit.
Perhaps there were staff shortages due to sickness, people away on courses, no extra staff at all on that particular day you visited. The ATCO will still cope although traffic may be delayed, safety is inherently inefficient. Welcome to the world of ATC....
(ATCAs). That is at the discretion of the ATS provider at the unit.
Perhaps there were staff shortages due to sickness, people away on courses, no extra staff at all on that particular day you visited. The ATCO will still cope although traffic may be delayed, safety is inherently inefficient. Welcome to the world of ATC....
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What happens when he needs a 'natural break'.
I remember visiting a tower on an island in Spain some years ago and was surprised to find that it was not only a 1 man tower but they were rostered on for 24 hour shifts...wasn't very busy during non-holiday periods apparently.
At the time I was working 12 hour shifts in a 1 man tower and thought that was a long day
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exeng,
Staffing a facility with only one controller is NOT safe, but many facilities still do it, including many in the United States. The problem is what happens if this controller has a medical emergency, what happens if there is an accident on the field and now this controllers workload has climbed exponetially.
There have been documented cases where a controller did become injured or had a medical emergency and wasn't found until the next shift (morning crew) reported to work, luckily as far as I know no controllers have died during a one person shift.
Mike
NATCA FWA
Staffing a facility with only one controller is NOT safe, but many facilities still do it, including many in the United States. The problem is what happens if this controller has a medical emergency, what happens if there is an accident on the field and now this controllers workload has climbed exponetially.
There have been documented cases where a controller did become injured or had a medical emergency and wasn't found until the next shift (morning crew) reported to work, luckily as far as I know no controllers have died during a one person shift.
Mike
NATCA FWA
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The ATS unit I'm working at rosters a one man shift to handle Ground, Flight Data, Tower & Procedural without an assistant and we're not subject to CAP670, neither are we subject to any other working time regulations. We also work a split shift system (2 one man shifts contained within the same 24hr period). It's no-one's idea of an ideal system but due to staff shortages and the need to get time off at some stage, it's all we can do.
Mistrust in Management
Thread Starter
Thanks for the replies everybody
I'm truly shocked that ATCO's can be expected to work alone. I don't believe it is safe at any airfield and it is particularly worrying at airports handling commercial operations.
I would imagine the U.K.F.S.C. would be interested in this information.
Regards
Exeng
I would imagine the U.K.F.S.C. would be interested in this information.
Regards
Exeng
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You would never operate any flying sector with only one pilot on a commercial airline. But airports do operate with one controller. What happens if something goes wrong. I think owing to commercial pressures Airport Management are willing to take the risk of working one controller on a night shift. Due to the increasing shortage of ATCO's and the unwilling attitude of airport management to employ extra controllers then one person manning will happen more often. If you read the Notams which say "radar may not be available" then you will see which airports are doing this. I know for certain that Leeds and Teeside sometimes operate with one ATCO only during the night.
Please prove me wrong.
Please prove me wrong.
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He controlled departures and arrivals, apron and ground, clearance delivery, as well as traffic in the zone.
Cleared to land ..... no departures .... cleared take off .... no landing clearance....
Apron , ground clearance delivery ... all part of the regime which gets an aeroplane in stages from terminal to airborne.. same person on one frequency.
as well as traffic in the zone
Two frequencies and two telephones.
Big aeroplane nearly hits ground sensation .. drama .. etc. Actually a mid sized commuter landed without the journalist understanding. Probably a bit like this thread.
