ATC Workload Truths

Ever watched news about ATC—controllers falling asleep, doing drugs, near misses? Can any of that be true? Here is one controller’s perspective.

Elim Hawkins

Saturday, March 16, 2024 at 08:00 AM ET

Verified

They don’t line themselves up. Somebody’s working hard to get those three lanes of traffic with that spacing. Imagine doing that on a 10-hour shift six days in a row.

Key Takeaways:

Chronic staffing shortages are forcing air traffic controllers into unsustainable schedules, including six-day workweeks and long shifts, severely diminishing their quality of life.
This widespread overwork leads to significant controller fatigue, contributing to hazardous attitudes, errors, and instances of controllers falling asleep on duty.
Controller fatigue and staffing deficits are directly linked to an increased risk of operational errors and near-miss incidents, compromising air safety.
Addressing the current shortage of approximately 3,000 controllers is a slow process, projected to take at least five more years due to training limitations and high washout rates.

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Depending on where you get your news, you’ve probably wondered how much truth there is to stories about ATC. Six near misses made the news in 2023, caused by staffing shortages? Controllers falling asleep on position? Drugs? Are controllers actually leaving the job to seek better quality of life? Yes; yes; no; maybe some.

Near misses are not directly caused by staffing shortages. It’s already public knowledge that a few controllers have fallen asleep on position. No occupation is a “drug-free environment.” Of course, a controller would leave to find something better. The only thing that keeps some of us is the fact that we need a job and/or we don’t have anything else that we enjoy as much.