Air Traffic Controller asleep....
Join Date: Mar 2001
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It is available on flightdecks already. Boeing longrange aircraft have a function to make pilots aware of no user input over some time, and of course nearly every aircraft can use SELCAL (even for VHF) to wake up from ATC calls. Alas ATC doesn't use it... (well, except on HF).
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FAA gives tired controllers an extra hour to rest
AP - Monday, April 18, 2011 2:19:00 AM EDT
Air traffic controllers will get an extra hour off between shifts so they don't doze off at work, but officials have rejected another proposed remedy: on-the-job napping.
"On my watch, controllers will not be paid to take naps. We're not going to allow that," Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said Sunday.
That's exactly the opposite of what scientists and the Federal Aviation Administration's own fatigue working group said was needed.
Air traffic controllers will get an extra hour off between shifts so they don't doze off at work, but officials have rejected another proposed remedy: on-the-job napping.
"On my watch, controllers will not be paid to take naps. We're not going to allow that," Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said Sunday.
That's exactly the opposite of what scientists and the Federal Aviation Administration's own fatigue working group said was needed.
Join Date: Jan 2001
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Probably the same place the NHS gets any new, fully qualified staff - two minutes after the Secretary of State (at the time) promises them. Your Fairy Godmother will wave her magic wand and lo, they shall appear. 
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The FAA always seems to mandate changes to the larger air traffic facilities but rarely mandates the same changes to the smaller facilities (ATC 8 and below). My last three years in the FAA all my mid shifts were worked by myself, prior to that at another facility I worked tower and approach during the mid shifts by myself (10 years). Did I ever fall asleep during a mid, YES.
As I've said before the shift rotations that we worked required quick turns (only 8 hours off between shifts) which often resulted in a controller getting less than 6 hours sleep between shifts. Calling in sick because you didn't get enough sleep was discouraged and would often result in disciplinary action.
As I've said before the shift rotations that we worked required quick turns (only 8 hours off between shifts) which often resulted in a controller getting less than 6 hours sleep between shifts. Calling in sick because you didn't get enough sleep was discouraged and would often result in disciplinary action.
