Console Hours?
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Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Australia
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Console Hours?
Just trying to get an idea of what other controllers are working at the console.
We currently are working 2hours on, 30min off, in an radar approach environment.
How does that compare to other countries ies NATS, Eurocontrol etc.
Thanks
Bikeboy
We currently are working 2hours on, 30min off, in an radar approach environment.
How does that compare to other countries ies NATS, Eurocontrol etc.
Thanks
Bikeboy
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Hants, UK
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At LACC (NATS Swanwick) most sectors are subject to what is called 'enhanced relief' during the majority of the day. This is due to traffic loading and/or complexity, and means that we work a maximum of 90 mins at console before having 30 mins break. This is also pro-rata (60 mins worked, minimum 20 min break etc).
Once things quieten down a bit (evenings and nights) or on non 'enhanced relief' sectors we are subject to normal SRATCOH regulations of 30 mins off for every 2 hours worked.
Once things quieten down a bit (evenings and nights) or on non 'enhanced relief' sectors we are subject to normal SRATCOH regulations of 30 mins off for every 2 hours worked.
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Karlsruhe, Germany
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German Upper Area Control Center (Rhein Radar):
We count our lifetime in "boxes" of 15 minutes on the duty roster. Every working day has exactly eight hours, you can start from six in the morning on at almost any time until 1500.
Today I work from 0700 on like this:
6 boxes work
2 boxes break
6 boxes work
4 boxes break
4 boxes work
3 boxes break
6 boxes work
1 box early go due to typical noon overstaffing
_______
32 boxes á 15ī = 8 hours
Thatīs more breaks than normal. During summer with low staffing you might get only 3 times half an hour break. Thatīs the minimum.
We count our lifetime in "boxes" of 15 minutes on the duty roster. Every working day has exactly eight hours, you can start from six in the morning on at almost any time until 1500.
Today I work from 0700 on like this:
6 boxes work
2 boxes break
6 boxes work
4 boxes break
4 boxes work
3 boxes break
6 boxes work
1 box early go due to typical noon overstaffing
_______
32 boxes á 15ī = 8 hours
Thatīs more breaks than normal. During summer with low staffing you might get only 3 times half an hour break. Thatīs the minimum.
Join Date: May 2004
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in Spain, we work 2/3 of duty time and rest 1/3. So in a normal day shift: six hours sitting into position and two hours free. These rates are only valid at ACC,APP oficces, TACCS and major TWRs.
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At LACC (NATS Swanwick) most sectors are subject to what is called 'enhanced relief' during the majority of the day. This is due to traffic loading and/or complexity, and means that we work a maximum of 90 mins at console before having 30 mins break. This is also pro-rata (60 mins worked, minimum 20 min break etc).
Note that this is a management/union agreement made at specific UK NATS units for specific sectors and times and is better (that is, less time on console) than the legal minimum laid down in the CAP670.
The UK CAA can also grant extensions to the legal minimums in certain circumstances and companies can also extend them too in extremis, as long as they follow certain processes. These are detailed in the CAP670.
Join Date: Jan 2004
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Bikeboy,
Just some history for you. In Oz centres in the ol' days (green screen, shrimp boats and paper strips) there were no set hours at the console. You could be tethered to it for up to 8 hours (if your bladder was good enough).
Since we're now in TAAATS, a fully screen based environment. No paper strips, just keyboard and mouse, and your four screens per console, a decree was made on workplace health and safety grounds that in a screen based environment, a controller must have at least 20mins. break every two hours.
Doggos (that's what we call a night shift), doesn't count apparently, and you're stuck there for however long.
Just some history for you. In Oz centres in the ol' days (green screen, shrimp boats and paper strips) there were no set hours at the console. You could be tethered to it for up to 8 hours (if your bladder was good enough).
Since we're now in TAAATS, a fully screen based environment. No paper strips, just keyboard and mouse, and your four screens per console, a decree was made on workplace health and safety grounds that in a screen based environment, a controller must have at least 20mins. break every two hours.
Doggos (that's what we call a night shift), doesn't count apparently, and you're stuck there for however long.
Join Date: Sep 2003
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To morrow i will work:
02:00 TWR/APP Comb (The dreaded SPO)
00:30 Doing the morning briefing in the TWR cab
00:30 Retaking seat in TWR pos
01:00 Break, "admin work"
02:00 APP Radar 2 hrs
01:00 Break, "admin work"
01:00 TWR
--------------------
08:00
We basically run a "2-1" system from 8 to 15, and a 1-1 (TWR/APP combined, SPO) after that (to midnight), with the "break" hour beeing a bit fragile, since the one on break in standby to re-open APP Radar if the need arises.
6 to 8 is SPO only, no back up.
It's not ideal, the breaks are a bit long I think, but you still need 3 persons to run 2 positions if you are going to get a break during "office hours".
02:00 TWR/APP Comb (The dreaded SPO)
00:30 Doing the morning briefing in the TWR cab
00:30 Retaking seat in TWR pos
01:00 Break, "admin work"
02:00 APP Radar 2 hrs
01:00 Break, "admin work"
01:00 TWR
--------------------
08:00
We basically run a "2-1" system from 8 to 15, and a 1-1 (TWR/APP combined, SPO) after that (to midnight), with the "break" hour beeing a bit fragile, since the one on break in standby to re-open APP Radar if the need arises.
6 to 8 is SPO only, no back up.
It's not ideal, the breaks are a bit long I think, but you still need 3 persons to run 2 positions if you are going to get a break during "office hours".
