FAA Making Changes To Controller Schedules
MIAMI (CBS4) - Just days after the latest incident of a controller caught sleeping on the job, the Federal Aviation Administration announced it's changing air traffic controllers work schedules.
The latest incident happened over the weekend in Miami, at a busy regional facility that handles high altitude air traffic.
"It's disturbing, part of our safety structure," said retired American Airlines pilot Jay Rollins.
"When you are flying at 35-thousand feet, the pilot depends on the controller such as the one in Miami to separate them from opposing traffic," Rollins continued. "It's important to understand that each controller at that facility is responsible for their own piece of the pie so that's where it's a problem."
The Miami controller did not miss any calls and there was no impact on flight operations, according to the FAA. But the controller who was working an overnight shift was suspended.
Rollins, who spent 25 years with American Airlines and also flew in the U.S. Navy, said the air traffic controllers job is vital.
"Sometimes the pilot is approaching where he can't see the airport or the runway so he has no way of knowing what's out there, it might be extremely hazardous," Rollins said.
Because of the problems the FAA has implemented new air traffic controller rules: controllers must have a minimum nine hours off between shifts; there will be no more shift swaps without nine hours off; no unscheduled midnight shifts after a day off and FAA managers are stepping up to provide more coverage during off hours.
"It's very difficult to switch from one shift to another, let alone being on a midnight shift," said neurologist and sleep specialist Dr. Jeffrey Steinberg.
"There is a hormone called melatonin that controls your sleep and when you shift your schedule your body gets distorted. And don't forget these people are in an environment more conducive to sleep than wakefulness. They are in a dark room, with extreme eye strain; a place where I tell my patients to sleep."
Dr. Steinberg said there is an approved drug call Nuvigil for people on shift work, but air traffic controllers would require FAA approval to use it.
Besides the shift changes, the FAA is also looking at an educational program for controllers and examining how they are trained so new air traffic controllers are prepared for the job.
