Air Traffic Controllers Need More Rest
A recent federal audit of air traffic controllers at O’Hare Airport revealed that they have too little time off between shifts and recommended immediate change.
The student found that this causes controllers, who direct plane traffic, to be a factor contributing to fatigue and could be a safety threat.
The report was released July 2, 2009, by the U.S. Department of Transportation. It criticized the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for not acting sooner to alleviate air traffic controller fatigue at three air traffic facilities in the Chicago area – O’Hare, Elgin and Aurora. The office of Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill) said that they requested this study after hearing concerns of air traffic controllers in Illinois.
The audit revealed that most controllers at the three facilities have had fewer than 10 hours rest between some shifts, have progressively earlier start times on consecutive shifts and have increased overtime hours.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) had made recommendations regarding controller fatigue, and the study found that the FAA, which is in charge of implementing regulations, “does not consistently address human factors issues, such as fatigue and situational awareness” when it investigates operational errors, according to the study.
The FAA disputed some of the audit.