The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is increasing the amount of required rest between shifts for air traffic controllers in response to growing concerns about fatigue and its impact on aviation safety.
In the past week alone, two close calls on runways have raised alarm bells. At John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, a tower controller cleared a SWISS Airbus A330 jet for takeoff while a ground controller on a different frequency cleared four other jets to cross the runway. The SWISS jet aborted its takeoff after the pilot spotted the other planes on the runway.
A similar incident occurred the following day at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Virginia, where an air traffic controller instructed a Southwest Airlines jet to cross runway 4 while a JetBlue Airways plane was beginning its takeoff on the same runway. Fortunately, both jets landed safely without any injuries reported.
These incidents highlight the strain on the aviation system, which has been compounded by a shortage of certified air traffic controllers. The FAA has acknowledged this issue and has been working to address it, setting a goal of hiring 1,500 controllers last year and 1,800 this year.
The increase in rest time between shifts is a crucial step towards reducing fatigue among air traffic controllers. The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) has expressed concerns that the new policy may lead to coverage gaps in air traffic facilities due to the workforce shortage, but the FAA remains committed to addressing this challenge.
The FAA is also investigating the two runway close calls that occurred last week. These incidents underscore the importance of ongoing efforts to enhance aviation safety and ensure the well-being of air traffic controllers.
