Sleeping Air Traffic Controllers

By Keith

You've probably heard the rash of news reports over the last couple of weeks regarding air traffic controllers who were sleeping on the job.

The reports make it sound pretty terrible and very unsafe. After all, how could a plane possibly land when the guy in the tower is sound asleep?

An aircraft can land perfectly well with NO help from a controller, I assure you! But admitting such a fact on national television is not very newsworthy so the event is made out to be a "terrible thing."

The word "safety" is usually dragged into the discussion. Controllers exist to enhance safety, that is true. Essentially, they serve as the traffic cops of the sky. But they do not "drive" the airplane!

Most, if not all, of the reported incidences occurred at night. Late at night, after all the other controllers have gone home. Why had they gone home? Because they were scheduled to work during the busy part of the day. When there is close to zero traffic, say one plane every 10 minutes—or even one plane every four hours—there is little need for more than one controller.

Obviously, there was not enough traffic or radio communication to keep the controller awake. Perhaps the aviation world would have been better served had he been sleeping at home in his bed, rather than in the control tower.

I personally question the need for even one controller when traffic is extremely light. But for some reason, scheduled air carriers feel really uncomfortable about having their planes land where there is no controller on duty. Some years ago, here in Cedar Rapids special arrangements were made to keep the tower open an extra period of time so one airliner could land!

Just because the news reporter is excited about this "terrible event" is no reason you should be! Air traffic can continue just fine, thank you, and be just as safe.

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