Fatigue threatens air safety, NTSB says

[babylonsister]

http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20070411/1a_lede11_dom.art.htm

Fatigue threatens air safety, NTSB says
Controllers working with too little sleep

By Alan Levin
USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — Sleep-deprived air traffic controllers played a role in at least four near-fatal incidents on the nation's runways, and the controller on duty in the worst U.S. crash in five years got only two hours of sleep, federal accident investigators said Tuesday.

"Fatigue decreases aviation safety," the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said in a letter urging reform in air traffic scheduling and training.

The NTSB said the problem of tired controllers is exacerbated by scheduling two eight-hour shifts within 24 hours, a common practice that gives controllers little chance to get normal sleep.

The safety board said the Federal Aviation Administration, which employs controllers and regulates aviation, does "not adequately consider the potential impact of work scheduling on fatigue and performance." It also found that controllers interviewed after incidents often admitted that they didn't make it a priority to get enough sleep.

The FAA will study the recommendations, agency spokeswoman Laura Brown said. The FAA requires at least eight hours between shifts, and "we expect controllers to be responsible and make sure they are adequately rested," Brown said. Schedules are negotiated with the controllers' union, so changes would require approval from employees, she said.

National Air Traffic Controllers Association spokesman Doug Church said the union welcomes the NTSB report. "This is the number one problem in the controller ranks," Church said. "There are not enough of us. The FAA is stretching their controller resources too thin."

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[salin]

1. Often scheduled for two 8 hour shifts within 24 hours...

with 8 hours off - and then told that it is their (controllers) fault if they aren't "responsible" if they don't get enough rest. Er - 8 hours to eat, commute, and take care of all business (pay bills, etc.) ... and get enough sleep. :crazy:

Again the practice of a Federal Agency demonstrating its lack of concern for conducting its business in a manner that disregards the taxpayers (which are much of the flying public.)

k & r