Earlier today, the FAA announced major changes in scheduling for air traffic controllers. For one, they're due to get much more rest than before.
Air traffic controllers will be guaranteed a minimum of at least nine hours off between tightly scheduled shifts under a plan announced by federal officials Sunday morning.
“We expect controllers to come to work rested and ready to work and take personal responsibility for safety in the control towers,” said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood. “We have zero tolerance for sleeping on the job.”
[snip]
“Research shows us that giving people the chance for even an additional one hour of rest during critical periods in a schedule can improve work performance and reduce the potential for fatigue,” said FAA Administration Randy Babbitt.
It may seem like the changes were made in response to yet another controller falling asleep yesterday--this one in Miami. However, this has actually been in the works for a few weeks. Negotiations with the National Air Traffic Controllers' Association concluded over the weekend.
Among the changes--controllers will now be allowed to nap during their scheduled nine-hour breaks, per an internal NATCA email. Previously, controllers had not been allowed to nap on their breaks because they are subject to being called in early during high traffic periods.
Controllers will also be allowed to have radios and CD players in the tower during overnight shifts and in radar rooms throughout the day.
These changes appear to be at least four years overdue. Back in 2007, the NTSB called for changes in scheduling policies. But LaHood appears to finally realize there's a serious problem.
LaHood said on “Fox News Sunday” that the flying public needs to be assured that the nation’s aviation system is safe. He said he flies “commercially all the time” and wakes up thinking about transportation safety.
“I’m really mad about it,” LaHood. “We’re going to work 24/7 to make sure these controllers are well trained and alert.”
About the only good thing is that we're really lucky it didn't take someone dying for these changes to happen.