Lack of sleep can make doing almost anything we need to do much more difficult. Trying to do a job while sleep deprived often leads to poor job performance, something we all want to avoid. This can be particularly problematic for those who make important and far-reaching decisions about the lives of others, such as politicians and ER doctors, to name a few.
A recent statement from the FAA highlights another profession for which lack of sleep can have very serious consequences: air traffic controllers. The FAA reported yet another air traffic controller who fell asleep for about five hours during his shift in Knoxville, Tenn. The controller was on the midnight shift on February 19, 2011. Air traffic controllers work in pairs, one handling incoming flights, and one working the radar. According to the article, while the controller who was supposed to be handling the incoming flights was sleeping, the other controller working in the tower landed planes and worked the radar position at the same time. The FAA does not allow one person to do multiple jobs at the same time; this man was forced to do so while his colleague slept because the latter was too tired to stay awake.
We know this about sleep deprivation: there are real physiological and psychological effects as we deprive our bodies of a basic physical need. Our judgment isn't always the best, our reaction time slows, our memory decreases and our bodies and minds slow down in an effort to preserve the energy we have left. In addition, the more sleep-deprived we get, the less we notice it!
This is only the latest in sleep-deprivation- and fatigue-related incidents for the airline industry. Remember the October 2009 incident in which two Northwest Airlines pilots fell asleep in the cockpit and overshot their destination by 150 miles? Pilots and air traffic controllers on the ground -- these are people we rely on for our safety when we fly.
The FAA suspended the controller who fell asleep on the job and continues to try to enforce rules about safely working midnight shifts. My big question is this: Was this really the controller's fault?
It sounds like in many of these cases, the air traffic controllers are being asked to work back-to-back shifts, and in some cases multiple days at a time. This is insane, and it is a miracle that we have not had more issues. And while I believe that no one should be working such a late shift by himself or herself, air traffic controllers, pilots and anyone with responsibilities late at night or after long days should also consider the following:
After those pilots missed Minneapolis by 150 miles, the FAA rewrote its rules that govern flight time for pilots, and they require rest periods in order to reduce the chances of fatigue. Hopefully they will also do so for the air traffic controllers on the ground.
Sweet dreams,
Michael J. Breus, Ph.D.
The Sleep Doctor™
www.thesleepdoctor.com
"Everything you do, you do better with a good night's sleep"™
Twitter: @thesleepdoctor
Facebook: www.facebook.com/thesleepdoctor
Follow Dr. Michael J. Breus on Twitter: www.twitter.com/thesleepdoctor
Matthew Edlund, M.D.: Let Air Traffic Controllers Nap
Sleeping Air Traffic Controller Suspended After Emergency Landing ...
FAA fires air traffic controllers for sleeping - Politics - White ...
Another air traffic controller suspended for sleeping - CNN.com
Feds probe sleeping air traffic controller report - CBS News
Air traffic controller suspended for sleeping on job | abc7.com
Air Traffic Controllers To Get More Sleep Under New FAA Rules
The FAA does not want them to take naps at lunch or a break and won't hire more people when the same things happen again and again - yeah makes sense. Face it coffee and stimulants only do so much and in the long run they do more harm than good. All this to save money - unfortunately it's going to take a catastrophe before folks realize not only do you get what you pay for but you get what you do not pay for.
One to Beam Up Scotty! There is no intelligent life here!
"The controllers have tried through their union to improve the situation. But the FAA, as unabashedly anti-labor as all other federal agencies under Bush, rejected union demands for improvements during negotiations for a new five-year contract last year. The agency then unilaterally imposed a new contract that made the situation even worse.
Previously, controllers were guaranteed rest breaks after every two hours of their eye-straining high-anxiety work of following aircraft paths across radar screens. But no more. And they can now be forced to work overtime, however fatigued or stressed they may be. Nor are controllers any longer guaranteed two consecutive weeks of vacation."
So, it's not about "suck it up."
What I read in this article pretty much aligns with what an air traffic controller friend of mine told me. It's getting worse, and he's getting out. So are a lot of the guys there. The FAA and management doesn't want good pay and decent working conditions? Then they'll have planes colliding in midair.
And how many years of midnite shifts have I worked in my life? I worked 20 years of 3 days, 2 off, 3 swings, 2 days off, 3 mids, 2 days off. So don't tell me I don't know what I'm talking about. Yes, it's difficult. But if you don't like working shifts, get a different job. It's not like my job where I didn't have a choice (The US Military - you are stuck until you get out, whenever that may be), the ATCs can quit if they aren't happy. Get a different life. But don't put people at risk because you're not dedicated enough to schedule your rest properly!
too complex for us to comprehend? Thats the same old b.s w'er told about all else in government. Maybe it's time to literally clean house in DC and state capitals and start over with, kill Americas enemies and hooray for American citizens.LEAGAL ONES THAT IS! YEAH RIGHT. WHEN THE SUN STARTS RISING IN THE WEST.
Our schedules usually go week-on/week-off. Right about the time I start getting adjusted to being on nights, the week is over and it's time to go home.
Of course when I'm at home, it's pretty much impossible to keep a night schedule if I ever want to see my wife. Right about the time I get adjusted to a normal schedule - it's time to go back to work.
And....repeat.
Working at night is stressful and when you are in control of people's lives, it's super stressful.
Don't let these "blame the victim" types get you down.
They don't really get it, and they never will.
You have to work the same shift. Husband worked 2nd shift for 40 years.
ATC has to hire more people and not have controllers rotating their shifts!
Get over it! Be HAPPY you got a JOB!
Back to back shifts with not enough time to shift your sleeping schedule?
Thank the goddam Republicans for this, starting with Regan/Bush's illegal and illegitimate firing of ALL of the PATCO union workers, claiming "public safety".
Now we have air traffic controllers falling asleep, and WE TOLD YOU SO.
This is your fault Repubs. Deal with it. You did this. How many people have to die so that you can wake the hell up and stop blaming the victims?
You make a good point about Reagan messing with unions, with the airlines and pilots and controllers. A friend of mine got hired as an air traffic controller during that Reagan wave, when the others were fired. And it's tough. No one has seniority because they were all hired together, so even if you've been there for decades you can't get a day off that you want. They also make it tough to be sick, basically you can't be, so you're ill but sitting there working a long shift. People have left in droves, and everyone is overworked, especially now that controllers are retiring rather than put up with the working condition.