New rules for Air Traffic controllers

[malaise]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Air traffic controllers are being required to take more time off between shifts. After a series of highly publicized incidents of controllers falling asleep during overnight shifts, the new rules will give them at least nine hours off. Until now, they've had eight. But Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood tells Fox News Sunday "controllers will not be paid to take naps."

They had more time off before Ronnie Reagan fugged up the unions.

[movonne]

1. Is there any reason they cannot have a union???if not why can't

we go after them to start unionizing the air traffic personnel..

[TheWraith]

3. They have a union, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association.

And two more both under the name "Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization."

[indepat]

2. An admitted management snafu, not controllers who a slackers

:patriot:

[Brickbat]

4. Nine hours is still really pushing it, but it is an improvement.

"Controllers will not be paid to take naps" is just insulting, however.

[etherealtruth]

5. The way they have been scheduled is criminal

"Although scheduling is flexible to meet the air traffic system’s demands, one of the most popular schedules is known as the 2-2-1. Under it, a controller begins the workweek with two evening shifts, does a quick turnaround to a pair of day shifts and then does another quick turn before an overnight shift.

Those quick turnarounds — usually just eight hours — have been blamed for controller fatigue, particularly when the final quick turnaround comes at the end of the workweek and just before an overnight shift that usually is the least busy of the week."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/another_air_traffic...

The schedules placed human beings (ATCs) in the position of almost always being sleep deprived. The schedules also placed the public in danger by placing sleep deprived folk in key positions (by nature of their humanity NOT functioning at peak performance).

[SheilaT]

6. I did a research paper on shift work

a very long time ago, and one of the things I learned doing it, was that schedules like that are very bad. Overnight shifts should be staffed by permanent overnight staff, insofar as is possible. The people who design those quick turnarounds apparently have a hypothesis that the quick change keeps someone from being stuck in a shift. But to go from day shift to overnight virtually guarantees you'll be up about thirty-six hours by the end of the night shift.

[Terra Alta]

7. It's a good move, but there should be at least twelve hours between shifts.

Nine hours still isn't enough.