A recent investigation by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau revealed that an air traffic controller at Brisbane Centre was found asleep during their shift, monitoring air traffic near Cairns. The controller, with a decade of experience, had been working their seventh night shift in nine days, well beyond the recommended rest period.
The report attributed the incident to fatigue, citing insufficient resources within Airservices Australia, which led to over-reliance on last-minute schedule changes. This lack of proper staffing has created a situation where controllers are overworked, increasing the risk of dangerous errors.
The issue of fatigue among air traffic controllers is not unique to Australia. In the U.S., similar concerns have arisen due to a shortage of personnel, causing many controllers to work overtime. This has been linked to higher rates of near misses between aircraft, raising significant safety concerns.
Reddit users voiced their frustration, emphasizing the dangers of overworked controllers, with one user commenting, “If you make a mistake, hundreds of people fall out of the air.” Another noted the grueling nature of the job, saying controllers need more than just a weekend to recover from back-to-back shifts.
As the report highlights, fatigue in air traffic control is a serious issue that needs immediate attention to ensure passenger safety.
