The National Transportation Safety Board has removed fatigue and pilot and air traffic controller professionalism from its list of top transportation safety issues for the coming year.
In April of 2011 the FAA changed scheduling practices to give air traffic controllers more rest between shifts and to ensure greater coverage in the early morning and late night hours following high profile incidents involving unresponsive or dozing controllers, and which led to dismissals.
The FAA embarked on a fatigue education program and a training and qualifications review as well. The National Air Traffic Controllers Association said the board’s decision is a testament to the progress that has been made.
NATCA said it is continuing to work with the FAA to institute a National Professional Standards Program for air traffic controllers and other safety-related positions begun in 2010. The peer-to-peer program is intended to support the Air Traffic Safety Action Program by helping to monitor performance, maintain accountability and recognize examples of exceptional professionalism. The union said the program should be active within a few months and encompass over 318 professional standards committee members from 202 facilities, trained and working on personnel and performance issues.
