“Sleeping on the job” scandal reveals exploitation of US air traffic controllers

[Hannah Bell]

The scandal over air traffic controllers falling asleep on the job illustrates the dangerous conditions at US airports almost 30 years after Pres. Ronald Reagan crushed the strike by PATCO, which workers waged to preserve safety and working conditions...It has since come to light that there were four known incidents of lone air traffic controllers sleeping on the job in 2010. This week air traffic controllers were found asleep at airports in Knoxville, Tennessee; Reno, Nevada; and Seattle, Washington...

Predictably, politicians and the media have attacked the air traffic controllers...At least 31 major airports staff only one controller on overnight shifts. The FAA has not released the names of these airports, but they include Richmond International Airport, San Diego International Airport, and Sacramento International Airport.

In early 2008 there were 11,000 FAA air traffic controllers in the US—the same number as worked in the industry at the time of the PATCO strike... The consequences of this severe understaffing were tragically revealed in 2006 in Lexington, Kentucky, when a Comair Flight crashed after attempting to take off from the wrong runway, killing all 47 passengers and two of the three-member crew. After correctly giving the plane its runway assignment, the lone air traffic controller on duty had proceeded to other tasks, as required by FAA protocol.

The FAA budget is about to be cut again, but the only question is by how much. House Republicans have passed a bill rolling back funding to 2008 levels, while Senate Democrats have pushed through a bill that would keep funding stagnant. If recent short-term budget negotiations are an indication, the final bill will hew much more closely to Republican demands.

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2011/apr2011/airt-a16.shtml

[JohnyCanuck]

1. Having worked shift work over a period of a few years

the controllers have my absolute sympathy and support. I worked as a computer operator for several years and the job required rotating 12 hr shifts. On a night shift rotation when I had to sleep during the day, I found I got, on average, usually between 3 and 4 hrs sleep before having to go back in for my next shift and frequently found myself fighting to stay awake while at work. Fortunately I usually had 2 coworkers with me on the night shift sharing the work load and having people to talk to and interact with was a big help in staying awake. Also if one of us wanted to use our break time for a snooze that was not a problem, because we knew there would be someone around to wake us up when we were needed in the control room again.

IMHO it is absolutely ludicrous to expect one person to work a solo night shift rotation in a sedentary job like an air traffic controller without making allowances for what shift work does to the body clock.

[varkam]

3. I second that. I've worked a third shift job while going to school for almost six years now.

I completely agree with everything that you just said.

[madrchsod]

2. in the real world of manufacturing ...

no one is allowed to work in a similar situation as the traffic controllers. why? insurance,workman`s comp.,and wrongful death lawsuits.

i guess the faa figured that the legal problems were a cheaper price to pay than having another person in the tower.

[malaise]

4. And that's the story M$Greedia won't touch

Some time ago Sully (the Hudson river hero) also spoke about sleep deprived pilots being exploited.

[mmonk]

5. It's kind of like putting off funding to fix the levees in New Orleans.

Sooner or later, it will bite you in the ass.

[madokie]

6. I'm just happy that I see no more flights in my future

My wife won't get on an airplane even if it would save her life and sometimes I can see why that is.
Small planes I like to fly in but the commercial jets not so much anymore. Back when I was young and in the Navy I flew a lot but thats been 40 plus years ago, back before the 747 was flying. damn I'm getting old.

[Agony]

7. The Conservative world view says that not enough people have died yet

to balance the cost of hiring more ATControllers What are you all risk averse or something?

They just do not care... if some people die.

[dkf]

8. The article memtions that the fourth days hours allow for a long weekend.

Is this something the FAA controllers are allowed to do at their preference or something they are being forced to do by scheduling? How much of this is too much flexibility given to accommodate the controller and how much of it is dictated by the guys upstairs?

[hootinholler]

9. Back in the day the PATCO strike was about similar conditions

Now, NATCA does not have the right to strike.

-Hoot