FAA Mismanagement and Controller Fatigue

zoz02 Trusted Member KSGJ

Cirrus,

Thanks for the comment. 8 hours was used due to two primary factors, first the FAA uses it in its own standards, second many of the studies I found and am referencing base a quote-un-quote good nights sleep at 8 hours.

Thanks again.

Rosstafari Daaaang. /X

Interesting. Thanks for filling me in. Too bad that he's a rare exception.

Propellerhead Newcomer Fort Worth, Texas

Interesting findings, but this is a case of "Don't ask the question if you can't stand the answer."

The FAA IS looking at controller fatigue and rotating shifts. The problem is someone, somewhere has decided that it is an issue that is affecting the operation somehow, but, from where I sit, I don't see it. Level 11 Center, rotating shifts for more than 20 years and I think I'd rather have what we have now that what is obviously the solution to the "problem," and I'm not all that sure that controllers want it: either straight shifts or a week of days, week of swings, week of mids.

And if it's straight shifts, guess who gets stuck with the straight swings and mids? The junior guys. Is that really what we want?

I MUCH prefer rotating shifts, especially ONE day a week where I do a quick turn: get off at 9:30 and back the next morning at 6:30. Otherwise, the lack of sleep is a controller choice--we know how controllers love their social lives.

My schedule...and you tell me how if I get less than 8 hours of sleep, it's "FAA mismanagement" or the FAA's fault:

1430-2230.
1330-2130
0630-1430
0630-1430
0630-1430
RDO
RDO

Anyway, I'm just saying.

Cirrus12 Epic Member So. NH

That's not a bad week. I really like the idea of a rotating schedule. With your schule you have 3 full days until you have to be back at work. I think it will be hard getting used to it at first for the new guys, but after that initial period it shouldn't be too bad.

SnowAviation Senior Member Escondido, CA

The rotating shift is known to screw with your circadian rhythm, we like it so we don't care. You have a pretty nice rotation, it's rare in my area that we get two swings and three days, more like three swings two days or three swings and one day then the mid.

Another note, where I work, there is no way whatsoever that the junior guys would get the "Straight Mids" There are so many old folks who would eat up the straight mids that the junior folks would never see one, past a training mid.

HOwever, I'm with you, I've been rotating shifts for 26 years and I'm kinda happy with the status quo, but in my one year of Staff duty, the straight days was pretty damn nice. The extra hours you get from a rotating set of shifts or as it's sometimes known as "The Rattler" are trivial but still I like it.

It will be interesting to see what this survey comes up with. I suspect that the results will be filed away, just like the results of the "Jones Report" on controller burnout were filed away back in the 80's.

towerflower Junior Member Palm Coast, FL

Rotating shifts have been around for many years due to one reason. A person is paid based on how busy the facility is. If you have straight shifts and no rotation in it you could have people who work say level 11 traffic and others who really are only working level 8 or lower traffic. The way to "spread the wealth" is to rotate them through all shifts to ensure that everyone works their share of traffic. (note: this does not figure in the people who will change their shift after the basic schedule is posted). Some facilities have worked a friendly schedule of 1 week of nights, 1 week of days, and 1 week of mids and some have tried the reverse schedule of coming in on days first and finishing up on eves. I can tell you when you are younger the schedule doesn't really seem to matter but as you get older/closer to retirement you find that your body doesn't cooperate with you anymore and it is more difficult to try and get that needed sleep.

The other comment about someone, somewhere has decided that it is an issue......yes, it gained national attention a few years ago when the LEX crash happened and it became one of the focal points in the NTSB investigation because the controller had a quick turn (day-mid) and was working on 4 hours or less of sleep. Remember the FAA is known as the tombstone agency and action is only taken or looked at only after someone dies.

SnowAviation Senior Member Escondido, CA

That's an interesting theory but I'm not sure how true it is. Facilities have traffic all over the map, some are busiest on the weekends, some at night and some during the day. Some are busy all day and night long, and some like Louisville, where UPS is based, is busy all night long on the mid.

In all my years the only answer I've ever heard is "...it makes the weekend longer," and the old standard; "That's how we've always done it."

Amen to that.

And with that, a knee is usually jerked quite rapidly in the wrong direction, resulting in a pain that we all feel.

towerflower Junior Member Palm Coast, FL

That's an interesting theory but I'm not sure how true it is. Facilities have traffic all over the map, some are busiest on the weekends, some at night and some during the day. Some are busy all day and night long, and some like Louisville, where UPS is based, is busy all night long on the mid.

In all my years the only answer I've ever heard is "...it makes the weekend longer," and the old standard; "That's how we've always done it."

The traffic issue is exactly what I was talking about. Say it is a level 11 facility and the majority of the traffic is between 1pm-9pm. If you had straight shifts you would only have the eve shift working the level 11 traffic while the day and mids would be working a lower level. The way the FAA spends the wealth is to rotate the personnel through all the shifts to ensure everyone works the level 11 traffic. Is the proof in writing about why they rotate? I don't think so, but this is the way it was explained to me many moons ago. Can you imagine the b***hing that would go on if it was straight shifts? Why bust your butt when you can sit back and collect 11 pay and not work 11 traffic before you know it the FAA would have pay by shift i.e. day works level 9 and eve 11 and mids 3.

SnowAviation Senior Member Escondido, CA

I get what you are saying tower, and there are plenty out there who would do just that.