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Abq controller expressed concern regarding shift staffing on mid shifts as well as shift rotation policy.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 795719 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200807 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : abq.airport |
| State Reference | NM |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tower : sus.tower |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : local |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Experience | controller non radar : 4 controller radar : 18 |
| ASRS Report | 795719 |
| Events | |
| Independent Detector | other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : anomaly accepted |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | FAA |
| Primary Problem | FAA |
| Situations | |
| ATC Facility | procedure or policy : abq.tracon staffing : abq.tracon |
Narrative:
Controllers at abq are assigned midnight shifts with no break coverage every day. FAA and local policy mandates that 2 controllers be in the cabin attendant at all times on a mid-shift; yet only 2 controllers are staffed. These 2 position may only be combined for minimal bathroom breaks. The result; is 2 totally exhausted controllers; on every midnight shift. Controller shifts normally include evening; morning and midnight shifts; all in the same week. By week's end; and a controller's mid-shift; most controllers are already exhausted. Forcing these 2 controllers to then work a mid shift; without breaks; is dangerous. Controllers have requested to work straight midnight shifts to help aleve this exhaustion problem; but our requests have been denied. Suggested solution: we need a 3RD controller for breaks. Even a trainee who is checked out through the cabin would be sufficient. Or; we need to allow controllers to work straight mid-shifts.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: ABQ CTLR EXPRESSED CONCERN REGARDING SHIFT STAFFING ON MID SHIFTS AS WELL AS SHIFT ROTATION POLICY.
Narrative: CTLRS AT ABQ ARE ASSIGNED MIDNIGHT SHIFTS WITH NO BREAK COVERAGE EVERY DAY. FAA AND LCL POLICY MANDATES THAT 2 CTLRS BE IN THE CAB AT ALL TIMES ON A MID-SHIFT; YET ONLY 2 CTLRS ARE STAFFED. THESE 2 POS MAY ONLY BE COMBINED FOR MINIMAL BATHROOM BREAKS. THE RESULT; IS 2 TOTALLY EXHAUSTED CTLRS; ON EVERY MIDNIGHT SHIFT. CTLR SHIFTS NORMALLY INCLUDE EVENING; MORNING AND MIDNIGHT SHIFTS; ALL IN THE SAME WK. BY WK'S END; AND A CTLR'S MID-SHIFT; MOST CTLRS ARE ALREADY EXHAUSTED. FORCING THESE 2 CTLRS TO THEN WORK A MID SHIFT; WITHOUT BREAKS; IS DANGEROUS. CTLRS HAVE REQUESTED TO WORK STRAIGHT MIDNIGHT SHIFTS TO HELP ALEVE THIS EXHAUSTION PROB; BUT OUR REQUESTS HAVE BEEN DENIED. SUGGESTED SOLUTION: WE NEED A 3RD CTLR FOR BREAKS. EVEN A TRAINEE WHO IS CHKED OUT THROUGH THE CABIN WOULD BE SUFFICIENT. OR; WE NEED TO ALLOW CTLRS TO WORK STRAIGHT MID-SHIFTS.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 2009 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.