FAA hid study showing chronic air controller fatigue

[bananas]

Source: CBS News

Air traffic controllers' work schedules often lead to chronic fatigue, making them less alert and endangering the safety of the national air traffic system, according to a study the government has kept secret for nearly four years.

Federal Aviation Administration officials have declined to furnish a copy of the report despite repeated requests and a Freedom of Information Act request by The Associated Press. However, the AP was able to obtain a draft of the final report dated Dec. 1, 2011.

The impetus for the study was a recommendation by the National Transportation Safety Board to the FAA and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association to revise controller schedules to provide rest periods that are long enough "to obtain sufficient restorative sleep."

The study found that nearly 2 in 10 controllers had committed significant errors in the previous year - such as bringing planes too close together - and over half attributed the errors to fatigue. A third of controllers said they perceived fatigue to be a "high" or "extreme" safety risk. Greater than 6 in 10 controllers indicated that in the previous year they had fallen asleep or experienced a lapse of attention while driving to or from midnight shifts, which typically begin about 10 p.m. and end around 6 a.m.

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Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/faa-hid-study-showing-chronic-air-controller-fatigue/

[bananas]

1. Another Aviation Safety Report NASA Won't Release

http://nasawatch.com/archives/2015/08/another-aviatio.html

Another Aviation Safety Report NASA Won't Release

By Keith Cowing on August 10, 2015 7:02 PM.


FAA hid study showing chronic air controller fatigue, CBS

"The study is composed of a survey of 3,268 controllers about their work schedules and sleep habits, and a field study that monitored the sleep and the mental alertness of more than 200 controllers at 30 air traffic facilities. NASA produced the study at the FAA's request. J.D. Harrington, a NASA spokesman, also declined to release the study, saying in an email that since the FAA requested it, "they own the rights to decide its release." NASA gave the scientists who conducted the study an award for the project's excellence in 2013."

Keith's note: What "rights" does the FAA "own" that NASA does not also have? NASA and the FAA are both parts of the Federal government. I'll bet the FOIA requests are flying right about now.

- Heads Up NASA Air Safety Folks, earlier post
- NRC Does Not Think Much of NASA Air Safety Study, earlier post
- NAS Report on NASA NAOMS, earlier post

[Sienna86]

2. I hope the administration insists the report be released

I don't assume the President is on top of all these matters because agency heads don't bring it to his staff's attention.

[GoneFishin]

3. No multi-billion $ cost-plus contracts to be had getting controllers more sleep, so this danger

to the public will have to be shelved while we buy another 10 billion $ worth of airport porno scanners.

Or, we could invest billions to train TSA workers to examine passengers' earwax and snot for chemical explosives which they might sneak past security, extract from their ears and noses, and combine with other passengers' body secretions, to build an Ear Booger Bomb (tm).

[Psephos]

4. Another sterling moment in good governance. n/t

[Still In Wisconsin]

5. Boy, it sounds like the air traffic controllers need strong Union representation

Oh, wait. Thanks Reagan.

[LuckyLib]

6. Combine that with antiquated equipment

Long overdue for replacement: recipe for disaster.

[PSPS]

8. The gift of Reagan just keeps giving.