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Atcos: how long do you work in position?

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Atcos: how long do you work in position?

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Old 14th Aug 2008, 07:41
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Atcos: how long do you work in position?

Hi,
Just curious to hear how long you guys work in position in one session?
I usually work 90mins on 90mins off. twr or app. No planner or director.

How about you?
And what are the recommendations from IFATCA?
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Old 14th Aug 2008, 08:26
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If you are getting 90min. breaks I find that remarkable particularly at an airfield. The only place I've heard of getting these length breaks is Swanwick and they certainly don't work 90mins. at a stretch.
 
Old 14th Aug 2008, 08:44
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notared

all bloody summer i've been working hour on half hour off with the occassional hour and a half sessions, and i work at Swanwick.

I really don't know where this "Swanwick works for half an hour and then does bugger all for 90mins" comes from
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Old 14th Aug 2008, 09:08
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at scottish i would have said it was a 60/40 split, mostly working 90 minutes on 30 mins off, with the lesser percentage of 60 mins on 30 mins off.but breaks 99% of the time no greater than 3o mins
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Old 14th Aug 2008, 09:45
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1985

You're being taken advantage of. What about the 0530 starts that are out the door by 0800? People doing one night instead of two, early goes, day duties that bear no resemblance to rostered hours, the list goes on.
 
Old 14th Aug 2008, 10:37
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I think the last time that all happened was in 1985.


Do not feed the troll.
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Old 14th Aug 2008, 15:15
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at scottish i would have said it was a 60/40 split, mostly working 90 minutes on 30 mins off, with the lesser percentage of 60 mins on 30 mins off.but breaks 99% of the time no greater than 3o mins
Don't forget we have quite a few 2 hour sectors at Scottish as well, particularly in the evenings and mornings. You'll quite often get stuck on them for the full whack, especially if you are a Day Shift working with some of the Watches whose man management skills with regards to break planning are 'mentally challenged'.

Whilst it is also true that the 30 minute break is the norm for folks at ScACC (even for meal breaks on some of the Watches ... whom I've mentioned already actually ), we still have our own colleagues who shoot us in the foot and screw things up for their colleagues, sauntering in after 40+ minutes, or returning to the Ops Room around the 35 minute mark, but then proceed on their social wandering break whilst they move around talking to colleagues or meeting them by the headset lockers for a chat. Meanwhile some poor sod is going out of SRATCOH time or has a bursting bladder and the desk are frantically searching for the late comer.

I'm not sure which I hate most. Piss poor break management by some of the guys on the desk (a minority I hasten to add), or the serial malingerers amongst ourselves (you can name them on every Watch).

Last edited by TALLOWAY; 14th Aug 2008 at 15:33.
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Old 14th Aug 2008, 15:29
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TALLOWAY,

And another nail goes into the "MACC Morale Coffin"!

Last edited by ZOOKER; 14th Aug 2008 at 16:43.
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Old 14th Aug 2008, 15:39
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Are you saying Manchester have short hours and long breaks ?

Or that their staff (desk and sector) are great at making the break plan work 100% of the time ?

Or just **** stirring ??

I'd be surprised if a big unit like MACC doesn't have some of the same issues and behaviours that other large units at NATS has.
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Old 14th Aug 2008, 20:08
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TALLOWAY- being new you haven't met ZOOKER have you?

You know every village has its' resident idiot-well he is this site's version. Just put him in your ignore list if you don't have a sense of humour but if you like a regular chance to say " what a to**er leave him in your read file.
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Old 15th Aug 2008, 03:19
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Shannon Acc

2 hrs on. 5 min handover . 20 mins off. That's the minimum break. Some managers have tried to use their own interpretation of this rule by forcing atco's to take a 10 min break after one hr in position so they can put them back in position for another 2 hrs. Therefore one could end up with only a 10 min break in a 200 minute period.
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Old 15th Aug 2008, 04:24
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Airways New Zealand

Depending on whether it is Radar, Planner or Tower it is 2, 2.5 or 3 hours on and a minimum of a 10 min break and then back into it.
Max shift normally 7.5 (but can be extended).
Solo watch sectors/towers have to manage the breaks around the traffic.

Most rosters are written to make life easier than the above, but in some cases the maximums and minimums have to be applied

Where I am now - 8 hour shift, one hour on one hour off, or two hours on one hour off
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Old 15th Aug 2008, 14:46
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Knots,
Thank-you for your continuing support.
I note with interest that your location indicator is 'Costa del Swanwick'.
So your connection with ATC is that you are actually employed in the controller's coffee bar. I suspected this might be so.
Is there not a bean-grinders forum where you would be more at home? .
I'll have a large cappuccino with extra chocolate chips please.

Have a (90 minute) break,- Have a Kit-Kat .

Last edited by ZOOKER; 15th Aug 2008 at 16:18.
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Old 15th Aug 2008, 16:52
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aewaite,
Fancy meeting you here.
How's Swindon? Dried out yet? (No RIAT ).
More importantly, how's your NATS application going?
(Sorry for the slight thread deviation folks)
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Old 15th Aug 2008, 17:39
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Best of Luck .
Now, about these rest-breaks......
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Old 15th Aug 2008, 22:24
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Dee Mac,
All of my posts are outstanding! Just ask Fidgell .
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Old 21st Aug 2008, 16:29
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I'll have a large cappuccino with extra chocolate chips please.
And all this time I thought ZOOKER was a guy
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Old 21st Aug 2008, 17:24
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we do 2 hrs on and 30mins off alot just now....
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Old 21st Aug 2008, 22:07
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Coast,
I believe controllers have saying, 'Never assume anything in ATC' .
Now run along and find a moose !
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Old 23rd Aug 2008, 18:16
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Us displaced Rhodesians would prefer a kudu
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