6 on 2 off
 

Hi everyone, just to let you know that today the Spanish Justice has declared that our shifts (atcos) can be 6 on 2 off, when the 6th day it's usually a night. It's really mad, if things keep on going like this we'll have no rights at all.
So, what do you think about these things happening in Spainistan?

Disgraceful. There'll be even more severe incidents, separation losses etc. Many of the most severe incidents I have read about in recent years have happened in Spanish airspace, doubtless down to rostering and shift lengths. AENA has been a disgrace for years, no oversight, no accountability. Ask any pilot which is their least favourite/most stressful airspace to fly into in Europe and their answer will be.....

6 on 2 off is not unheard of in the UK. I'm not a fan of that particular shift pattern.

It all depends on shift lengths though, and from what I hear, theirs are looooonngg

In the UK at least you are required to have a 60 hour interval following six consecutive periods of duty.

More normally 6 on 3 off in the UK.

Normally 3 mornings, 2 afternoons, 1 night. But it can be 2 nights at the end, ... 8 hour shifts... and yes if you only rest 1 and a half days shifts are bloody looooooong!!!!!

I would like to know who Enaire (previously AENA) is consulting for this.
Not active ATCOs, that's for sure. :bored:

I met a young doctor in the intensive care ward of a large local hospital. He said he was looking forward to his day off (note singular - one day) after 21 days working!

Your point is well made HD, the ATCO community (and aviation in general) has it good compared to many other jobs, even those where safety of life is at stake.

However, I don't think the error record within the medical profession is one we should be willing to emulate. There is an entire industry in the western world built up around suing after doctor's mistakes. If anything, the medical profession should be looking to aviation for how to better manage the risk of human error.

There will always be a balance between the books and the risk, IMHO 6 on 2 off is starting to push the limits a little too far towards the books. I am a little biased though. :E

6 on 2 off
 

Hangten,

Well said!

6 on 2 off
 

"Hi everyone, just to let you know that today the Spanish Justice has declared that our shifts (atcos) can be 6 on 2 off, when the 6th day it's usually a night."

Just so everything's clear, when you say "2 off" do you actually mean 48 hours off?

If it's 'sleep day' then 'day off' then that isn't really 2 days off in the pure sense as you're working until around 0600 on your sleep day! That day is generally a write-off then if you start back on a morning shift your actual day off isn't great as you have to get up early for work the next day! :ugh::uhoh::mad:

Just to echo the words of HD, my brother is expected to be on call for up to 48 hours at a time - surgery. Nightmare.

C.A

What happens in the medical profession is, in the first instance, their affair & for them to sort out. And, for the rest of us, to avoid getting admitted to hospital!
What happens in ATC is the affair of Controllers & ATSAS.
If Spanish ATCOS are being told that they can only have 2 days off in 6, & 1 of those being a rest day after a night duty, then that, in my book, is TOTALLY unacceptable - for reasons which I do not need to explain here.

It should be 54 hours, but ENAIRE, for sure nowing them, will just give us 48 hours

According to Enaire, we need at least 3 breaks of at least 54 hours every month, but any of them can be reduced to 48 hours (when ever they want)

In Belgium, we're allowed 12 consecutive days, then we must have 2 off...
but if we work 11 consecutive days, one day off is enough for another 11 days... and it happens regularly...

Are you kidding??

I wish I was kidding...
and there's a limitation in a way the extra hours are paid...
It's really bad, but there's no "law" to prevent that from happening.
Considering the management reacted quite late for recruiting, many units are understaffed, then we work a lot, especially in summer time...