Another Controller Sleeping - Fired
- Thread starter RJM62
- Start date
bbchien
Touchdown! Greaser!
Okay, here's the summary:
Reagan national controller falls asleep on the job. He's a supervisor, and has to show for SOME daytime. After all he is a Supervisor. Supes aren't covered by NATCA. Fired.
Knoxville Controller falls asleep. Same will happen.
TWO NWA pilots are thought to have fallen asleep (claimed computer goofing around, overwrote (as in didn't pull the breaker) the CVR, got revoked).
Captains since time immemorial ask, "what I do for crew rest/sleep?".... Nothing. Time was they'd have a mini-Jack Daniels RIGHT at end of duty- eight hours bottle to throttle, but that's been clamped down upon. EXACTLY 8 hours latter, back on the flight deck. But 0.04 ended that, as did 0.00 airline policy.
Now with two controllers in both Knoxville and Reagan cabs, and one fewer controller in the staffing of each, the diurnal distress will be spread among one fewer controller(s), and more of the other controllers will have diurnal distress added to their lives.
Same in flightcrews since the duty rules were written.
FAA will not touch this as it's the third rail - it's an economic issue for FAA (as ATC's employer) AND for the Airlines.
Doncha just love having a Congresscritter for DOT secretary?
What our Congressman DOT sec'y doesn't get, is that humans liek to fall asleep in their 20th hour. Now, don't get me wrong, Ray we love you here in Peoria. But it's CREW REST, silly. Humans like to fall asleep after 20 hrs, and it's worse as they age.....
Reagan national controller falls asleep on the job. He's a supervisor, and has to show for SOME daytime. After all he is a Supervisor. Supes aren't covered by NATCA. Fired.
Knoxville Controller falls asleep. Same will happen.
TWO NWA pilots are thought to have fallen asleep (claimed computer goofing around, overwrote (as in didn't pull the breaker) the CVR, got revoked).
Captains since time immemorial ask, "what I do for crew rest/sleep?".... Nothing. Time was they'd have a mini-Jack Daniels RIGHT at end of duty- eight hours bottle to throttle, but that's been clamped down upon. EXACTLY 8 hours latter, back on the flight deck. But 0.04 ended that, as did 0.00 airline policy.
Now with two controllers in both Knoxville and Reagan cabs, and one fewer controller in the staffing of each, the diurnal distress will be spread among one fewer controller(s), and more of the other controllers will have diurnal distress added to their lives.
Same in flightcrews since the duty rules were written.
FAA will not touch this as it's the third rail - it's an economic issue for FAA (as ATC's employer) AND for the Airlines.
Doncha just love having a Congresscritter for DOT secretary?
What our Congressman DOT sec'y doesn't get, is that humans liek to fall asleep in their 20th hour. Now, don't get me wrong, Ray we love you here in Peoria. But it's CREW REST, silly. Humans like to fall asleep after 20 hrs, and it's worse as they age.....
Last edited:
kkoran
Pattern Altitude
The Knoxville controller apparently had a makeshift bed.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local...or-nap/2011/04/07/AFwJ2FvC_story.html?hpid=z3
Ted
The pilot formerly known as Twin Engine Ted
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iFlyNothing
This part is true and I don't question. However my question is still, why don't these people make accommodations to deal with it?
I have had more than my fair share of late-night drives and flights. I make sure that I get enough sleep on most nights so that, when I can't get enough sleep, I'm fine. I keep caffeine around to help as needed. I adjust my sleep schedule to make sure I get the sleep I need. Yes, it's more difficult to do if you're working nights, but no shortage of people manage do it.