FAA Finds Many Air Traffic Controllers Suffer From Chronic Fatigue

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has released a new study that reveals a troubling link between air traffic control work schedules, chronic fatigue, and dangerous aviation errors. The study, which seems to have been completed in 2011, was officially released this month only after being pressured by the Associated Press. The study included two parts: a survey of 3,268 air traffic controllers around the country and a field study of over 200 air traffic controllers at 30 different locations. The field study consisted of controllers wearing a wrist band that tracked sleep, completing a sleep log, and taking alertness tests at various intervals. The results of the study found that air traffic controllers are often chronically overtired due in part to their demanding schedules – and that their fatigue affects their alertness. Here are some of the study highlights:

• Twenty percent of air traffic controllers had committed serious errors in the past year.
• More than 30 percent of controllers who worked six-day shifts had committed serious errors in the past year.
• Half of the controllers who committed serious errors blamed the errors on fatigue.
• Over 60 percent of controllers reported fatigued driving or falling asleep at the wheel when driving to or from midnight shifts.
• Controllers averaged just 5.8 hours of sleep each day during a work week and only 3.1 hours of sleep before a midnight shift.
• Over three-fourths of air traffic control schedules led to chronic fatigue.

The sleep study was commissioned after a 2006 regional airline accident which should have been prevented by the air traffic controller. The controller had only slept for two hours out of the 24 hours prior to the crash, which killed 49 of the 50 people aboard.

Fatigue, Sleep Apnea & Air Traffic Controllers

This study is yet more evidence that the FAA faces serious issues with pilot and air traffic control fatigue – and that fatigue is inextricably tied with errors and accidents. As the aviation industry takes a closer look at air traffic control schedules, they are also examining their regulations in relation to controllers who may suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Currently, the FAA requires all air traffic controls with OSA to report their condition and seek treatment. In the future, they may also require air traffic control showing certain warning signs or risk factors of the disorder to be evaluated for the disease. It is important to note that chronic fatigue can make sleep apnea worse and sleep apnea can contribute to chronic fatigue. For these reasons, it is vital that the FAA confront both issues in order to create a safer aviation environment.

Sleep Apnea Surgery for Air Traffic Controllers

Sleep apnea can lead to chronic fatigue, which in turn can affect attention, concentration, and memory. These issues can be extremely dangerous and lead to deadly accidents when experienced by air traffic controls or pilots. As both the aviation industry and individual air traffic controllers look for solutions to this safety concern, Surgical Sleep Solutions is helping hundreds of sleep apnea patients treat their disorder through an innovative sleep apnea surgery. To learn more about our surgeons and our treatment model, please contact us today: (855) 560-7378.