New FAA rest rules to address 'fatigue' issues with air traffic controllers

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: NBC News

April 19, 2024, 11:52 AM EDT


The Federal Aviation Administration is instituting new rest rules for U.S. air traffic controllers to address fatigue issues that may be degrading air safety.

Controllers will now be required to take 10 hours off between shifts and 12 hours off before a midnight shift. The mandate will take effect in 90 days, FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker said in a statement Friday.

"In my first few months at the helm of the FAA, I toured air traffic control facilities around the country — and heard concerns about schedules that do not always allow controllers to get enough rest," he said. "With the safety of our controllers and national airspace always top of mind for FAA, I took this very seriously — and we’re taking action."

A representative for the National Air Traffic Controllers Association did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/new-faa-rest-rules-address-fatigue-issues-air-traffic-controllers-rcna148572

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Link to FAA Administrator STATEMENT - Statement from FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker

[marble falls]

1. Maybe they need a union.

[bluevoter4life]

2. We do

Current leadership is absolutely useless.

[PatSeg]

3. My son is an Air Traffic Controller

Yes, they do have a union and as far as I can tell, he is pretty happy with them. Every center is different however.

As best I can tell, one of the major problems right now is being understaffed. A lot of training was affected during the pandemic and I don't think they've ever caught up.

NATCA's response according to the article:

"NATCA is concerned that with an already understaffed controller workforce, immediate application of the Administrator’s new rules may lead to coverage holes in air traffic facilities’ schedules. These holes may affect National Airspace System capacity. Requiring controllers to work mandatory overtime to fill those holes would increase fatigue and make the new policy nothing more than window dressing."

I haven't talked to my son since I saw this article, so I haven't gotten his reaction yet.

[mwooldri]

4. What were the rest requirements before?

10 hours between shifts is IMO the minimum. Truck drivers are required to have 10 hours off duty between shifts (unless they have a sleeper berth and elect to run split sleeper). ATC should have that at bare minimum, if not more IMO.