How do you cope with the shifts
Join Date: Nov 2001
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M - morning (what hours?)
A - afternoon (again, what hours)
D - day?
O - off?
S - ?
N - night (hours?)
Sorry to be so vague, but different units have different ideas about how it works.
Join Date: Jun 2004
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At gatwick-
M= 7am-2pm
A= 2-10pm or LA (late avo)= 3.30pm-11.30pm
D= don't have them - I think at heathrow they range from 6.30am/10am/1.30pm/3.30pm starts (heathrow atco's may correct me!?)
S= sleep day - self explanatory!
N= 10pm-7am
AFH x
M= 7am-2pm
A= 2-10pm or LA (late avo)= 3.30pm-11.30pm
D= don't have them - I think at heathrow they range from 6.30am/10am/1.30pm/3.30pm starts (heathrow atco's may correct me!?)
S= sleep day - self explanatory!
N= 10pm-7am
AFH x
Join Date: Apr 2004
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Hi
whilst not an atco, I am a railway signalman at one of the busiest centers in London.We used to work the standard 8hr roster but often found ourselves doing 12 hr turns to cover vacancies etc
We then went onto 12hr shifts as a base roster and I love them.I do 5days 07-19 on then 4 off, 5 19-07 on and 5 off ,4 07-1900 5 off and so the pattern rotates. I couldnt imagine going back on 8s, constantly going into work day in day out!doing double shifts in 1 day to accomodate a sunday off elsewhwere, I find it so much easier to have a social life and manage my rest between shifts,the only downside is that on the block at work you really are a prisoner to the company but when on rest days its fab
regs
whilst not an atco, I am a railway signalman at one of the busiest centers in London.We used to work the standard 8hr roster but often found ourselves doing 12 hr turns to cover vacancies etc
We then went onto 12hr shifts as a base roster and I love them.I do 5days 07-19 on then 4 off, 5 19-07 on and 5 off ,4 07-1900 5 off and so the pattern rotates. I couldnt imagine going back on 8s, constantly going into work day in day out!doing double shifts in 1 day to accomodate a sunday off elsewhwere, I find it so much easier to have a social life and manage my rest between shifts,the only downside is that on the block at work you really are a prisoner to the company but when on rest days its fab
regs
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AFH,
You're correct.
M 0700-1430 (one of the eight(ish) morning shift ATCOs will be M1 0630-1330)
A 1430-2200 (one of the eight(ish) afternoon ATCOs will be A1 1430-2230)
N 2200-0700
D1 0630-1330 (day off after the afternoons to get the 12hr between shifts)
D2 1000-1900
D3 1330-2030
D4 1530-2300
You're correct.
M 0700-1430 (one of the eight(ish) morning shift ATCOs will be M1 0630-1330)
A 1430-2200 (one of the eight(ish) afternoon ATCOs will be A1 1430-2230)
N 2200-0700
D1 0630-1330 (day off after the afternoons to get the 12hr between shifts)
D2 1000-1900
D3 1330-2030
D4 1530-2300
Join Date: Sep 2001
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I love working shifts. However if you enjoy going out 'every' Friday and Saturday night on the lash, you have chosen the wrong career. If you aren't working those nights, you may be on an early the next day, or even working later the next day. With the drink controlling laws, you barely have to sniff a cork the night before and you could be illegal (not suggesting thats a bad thing).
That said, if you hate clothes shopping or fighting the weekend crowds at your local IKEA, its fantastic!
As was mentioned by Cartmans twin, get some thick blinds or curtains for the sleep day's, or and ear plugs if the b@**a$ds next door own a little yapping dog!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That said, if you hate clothes shopping or fighting the weekend crowds at your local IKEA, its fantastic!
As was mentioned by Cartmans twin, get some thick blinds or curtains for the sleep day's, or and ear plugs if the b@**a$ds next door own a little yapping dog!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Join Date: Jan 2003
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Hiya Barnaby,
You only say that as you're so OLD that you can't handle more than one night out a month!!
Regarding noisy neighbours, just do what my neighbour did and shoot the dog! (With a water pistol......)
CT
PS. Did you get to see the MC-HI victory?
You only say that as you're so OLD that you can't handle more than one night out a month!!
Regarding noisy neighbours, just do what my neighbour did and shoot the dog! (With a water pistol......)
CT
PS. Did you get to see the MC-HI victory?
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how do I cope with shift work??
Drugs and alcohol of course
In the sandpit, we work a D D E E N N S O O O
D= 0700-1500
E=1500-2300
N=2300-0700
O= hangovers, fishing, bbqs, diving etc
Drugs and alcohol of course
In the sandpit, we work a D D E E N N S O O O
D= 0700-1500
E=1500-2300
N=2300-0700
O= hangovers, fishing, bbqs, diving etc
Join Date: Mar 2005
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Just wondering with all these shifts, do any of you guys get a chance to do team sports? I can live without going out and all things like that but I play football at a reasonable standard and would hate to give it up.
That said, I appreciate I won't be able to play for ever and a career I enjoy is also very important so I wouldn't want to not do ATC because of football.
How easy is it to swap shifts with people (not every week), or is it just a fact that any team sport has to take a back seat?
That said, I appreciate I won't be able to play for ever and a career I enjoy is also very important so I wouldn't want to not do ATC because of football.
How easy is it to swap shifts with people (not every week), or is it just a fact that any team sport has to take a back seat?
I'm Just A Lawnmower
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Firstly, shifts are great - you end up pruning at 0340 in the morning...
Secondly, it shouldn't stop you from playing footie. Plenty of ATCOs and ATSAs manage it. It might cost you the odd day's leave here and there but with a bit of wangling it can be done.
Secondly, it shouldn't stop you from playing footie. Plenty of ATCOs and ATSAs manage it. It might cost you the odd day's leave here and there but with a bit of wangling it can be done.
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If you are a serious sportsman/woman shift work can be great. You can train during the day and give yourself weeknights off while everyone else is slogging around a cold, floodlit pitch or in a crowded gym. You will also find that you can better prepare yourself for competition when the roster gives you your days off preceding an event.
You will probably need to adapt the squad training programme to your shifts. Most training programmes work on a seven day week, incorporating the fact that athletes will be more tired on Thursday and Friday than Monday and Tuesday. This can work for and against you as you will often be fresh when the others aren't or tired when the rest of the squad is raring to go.
The downsides are the difficulty to establish yourself in a team when you cannot be certain of making training with everyone else, the discipline needed to train effectively on your own rather than being pushed by your team mates and having to juggle your roster to make the fixtures you want, usually requiring the goodwill of a third party.
It can be done though, and a healthy interest outside the job can be invaluable in helping you through the stress of training (and beyond!).
You will probably need to adapt the squad training programme to your shifts. Most training programmes work on a seven day week, incorporating the fact that athletes will be more tired on Thursday and Friday than Monday and Tuesday. This can work for and against you as you will often be fresh when the others aren't or tired when the rest of the squad is raring to go.
The downsides are the difficulty to establish yourself in a team when you cannot be certain of making training with everyone else, the discipline needed to train effectively on your own rather than being pushed by your team mates and having to juggle your roster to make the fixtures you want, usually requiring the goodwill of a third party.
It can be done though, and a healthy interest outside the job can be invaluable in helping you through the stress of training (and beyond!).
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Earplugs and eye-blinds are the essential equipment for shift working.
I also 'power nap' for an hour after morning shifts but then I'm getting on a bit and travel quite way to work!!
Disadvantages: Turning down party and dinner invites when you are working evenings and nights, although sometimes it's a good excuse!!
I also 'power nap' for an hour after morning shifts but then I'm getting on a bit and travel quite way to work!!
Disadvantages: Turning down party and dinner invites when you are working evenings and nights, although sometimes it's a good excuse!!
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Football and shift-work can be done
I worked with a guy at BA who used to play football for Wimbledon in the lower professional leagues between shifts.
He never missed a match!
He could dispatch the flight and then get on the jumpseat to play up in the North of England
Now don't ask me, who are Wimbledon
He never missed a match!
He could dispatch the flight and then get on the jumpseat to play up in the North of England
Now don't ask me, who are Wimbledon
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Well, I normally drink lots of water and hunt around for some good tablets to ... oh, sorry ... this is "How do you cope with the shifts" ...
I'll get me coat ...
I'll get me coat ...
