ATC sleeping on the job

[Nathan]

I wanted to ask whats up with all the ATC's sleeping down on the job. Or is it just coworker drama? Scams? Media B.S.?

I feel bad for all the ATC's that are feeling the heat from all the ass hole general public.

[Kyleb]

I wanted to ask whats up with all the ATC's sleeping down on the job. Or is it just coworker drama? Scams? Media B.S.?

I feel bad for all the ATC's that are feeling the heat from all the ass hole general public.

Employees in sedentary jobs falling asleep on the overnight shift is an age old problem. Controllers on solo and non-solo overnight assignments have had it happen since the first overnight tower.

BUT, for whatever reason, it is a story that has started getting people's interest, so it always makes the news now.

Fortunately, the FAA is run by public opinion these days and not by logic and principle, so now we have double controllers in situations that were marginal for needing one, and now a supervisor is required to keep separation for Airforce 2 or whatever...

[bdk]

If all airfields were uncontrolled, this wouldn't be a problem. Besides, what do you expect from a government worker? (Sorry Chris- just joking here, the pilots fall asleep too!)

The operative questions I think are:

1). Was here any real danger as a result of these events?

2). What would stop two controllers from dozing off at the same time?

3). If you can't keep drugs out of maximum security prisons, how are you going to keep DVD players out of the tower?

[Tulio]

I remember hearing that the controllers have to pull one or two night shifts per pay period.

This means, that their sleep cycle is disturbed, because they are accustomed at sleeping at night, and working during the day.
When you make them work at night, nature takes over, and your sleep cycle will do its best to complete itself. [Circadian stuff and such]

So, why not have some people working ONLY night shift? Once your body gets used to it, you'll sleep during the day, and will be active and
productive during the night.

Works for me, and for many, many other people I know, who work at night and in front of computers, that demand your constant attention.

Saludos,


Tulio

[davidbray]

I remember hearing that the controllers have to pull one or two night shifts per pay period.

This means, that their sleep cycle is disturbed, because they are accustomed at sleeping at night, and working during the day.
When you make them work at night, nature takes over, and your sleep cycle will do its best to complete itself. [Circadian stuff and such]

So, why not have some people working ONLY night shift? Once your body gets used to it, you'll sleep during the day, and will be active and
productive during the night.

Works for me, and for many, many other people I know, who work at night and in front of computers, that demand your constant attention.

Saludos,


Tulio

This is so true. I worked nights for a while (about 4 months before I got injured.) It is currently 2:45, I've been up since around 10 am, and while I am really tired, I could definitely stay awake another 5 or 6 hours if needed. I've found it quite hard to actually go back to sleeping during the night most of the time.

[tom d. friedman]

working an over night shift will fk up your body clock royal!! from sleeping, eating habits, potty timing etc. been their done that!! i know quite a few guys who had to be taken off of nights as it screwed up their health terribly.zzzzzzzzzzz

[Tulio]

I have worked night shifts for almost 20 years, and I prefer them over the daylight shifts.

Yes, it takes a while to get used, but once you do, it is as easy to work nights.

The problem lays, IMHO, in having controllers work nights one or twice per pay period, and then having to go back to working
days. This for sure, will mess up your cycles, and you will be falling asleep during the night at your control tower job.

Saludos.


Tulio

[Obergrafeter]

That no accidents happened after these incidents show that the controllers were probably not needed anyway. General aviation airplanes land at unattendeed airports every minute without incident, this with probably much more traffic than at the airline airports. Much ado about nothing, just ignorant media hype.