FAA fires a third controller for sleeping on duty

[Viva_La_Revolution]

Source: cnn

An air traffic controller at Seattle's Boeing Field has been fired for twice falling asleep on duty, the Federal Aviation Administration said Monday.

Last week, the FAA fired two air traffic controllers, one of whom worked in Knoxville, Tennessee, and the other in Miami, also for sleeping on the job.

The firings follow a spate of incidents in which controllers in various cities were reported to be sleeping while on duty.

Read more: http://edition.cnn.com/2011/TRAVEL/04/25/air.traffic.controller.fired/index.html

[uppityperson]

1. Same person was fired twice for sleeping on the job?I'm glad they are making some changes (info...)

"In response to the reports of controllers falling asleep on duty, federal officials recently announced a series of new regulations aimed at preventing such incidents.

Among other things, controllers now must have a minimum of nine hours off between shifts, instead of the current minimum of eight hours. In addition, controllers can no longer be put on an unscheduled midnight shift following a day off."

[niyad]

2. no, it said he was fired for sleeping twice on the job--they didn't fire him the first time.

[uppityperson]

3. Thank you, it didn't make sense to me, being dyslexic tonight. nt

[hedgehog]

8. I had a job working as warehouse supervisor on the back shift.

When we were on 12 hour shifts, that meant I had 12 hours to drive home, eat, sleep through the day and get back to work. Those days I ate and fell into bed. I know how I felt then. How can anyone be expected to work with only 9 hours between shifts?

I suspect a lot of nurses face this kind of scheduling all the time. Probably explains the nursing shortage!

[defendandprotect]

4. And where is our Congress and FAA -- ?? Where are the passengers???

No one is complaining?

[napi21]

5. I don't think 9 hours off between shifts is long enough!

Think about it. How long does it take YOU to drive home from your job? My son works at an aorport (not a ATC) and it takes him 45 minutes to get home at off hours when there's little traffic. That would mean if he left work, drove straight home, went right to bed (no dinner/breakfast/lunch or talking to his family) 3/4 of that generous extra hour they are giving the ATC's is already gone. Then there's the drive back to work of another 45 mins. How much are the allowed for a shower, eating etc? God fprbid they have a family they should have time with too! Did dear old Ronnie Raygun cause this? I think so!

There should be enough controllers so there is 16 hours off between shifts except for emergencies and then it should be a minimum of at least 12 hours.

[niyad]

10. it isn't even just the lack of time between shifts. it is the changing of shifts within a week's

time--working day, night and grave all in the same week really screws your biorhythms. takes three weeks to adjust to a shift change. .

[idahoblue]

6. Working graveyard

As it was once called means that you are never rested. I worked 7p to 7a for many years. I felt like I was suffering brain damage. 3am was tough no matter how much rest happened during the day sleeping. It is impossible to get the same quality of sleep during the day as at night. The discussion of this has been all wrong. Why are they doubling back?
All research indicates that a short nap is beneficial to mental ability. They should be encouraged to take a nap. I work in a hospital and they also forbid sleeping. Duh!
Why are they working alone? That is dangerous on many levels.
What does the union have to do with the bizarre schedule these people work?
Is falling asleep a new development or has it just come to light?

It was called graveyard for a reason- it will kill you!

(we did take turns sleeping when the work load allowed it, screw em!)

[hedgehog]

9. I AGREE! The hours of 2AM to 4AM are Zombie time, no matter how well

rested you are!

I saw more weird stuff happen during those hours than I could tell you. I had 2 millwrights who hustled from 11 to 2 to get their assignments completed, sack out on a bench form 2 to 4, then hustle around getting the department up and running when production people came in at 5. I had no problem with that whatsoever; while they were sleeping, they weren't getting hurt or breaking anything!

[napi21]

11. Years ago my husband worked like that too when he was on 11-7.

I too worked several years of 9 PM to 5 AM. No sleeping on the job forr ME! I worked at the Federal Reserve and it was work your butt of non-stop. You're all absolutely right about never getting "real sleep" at odd hours. I remember feeling just fine & not tired at all, but if we took our kids to a ovie, I litterally couldn'tkeep my eyes open. I found myself taking my fingers to physically hold my eyelids up. Then of coure you always have someone call you at 9 AM and the first thing they say is "I didn't wake you did I?" I started out saying nooo, what do you need, bt after a few months, I changed to YES YOU DID!

[bertman]

7. They should fire that guy who busted the Air Traffic Controllers Union. Oh, wait. He's dead.

Fuck you, Ronald Reagan.