After a delay, FAA finalizes air traffic controller rest policy

Washington — The Federal Aviation Administration has finalized a policy requiring air traffic controllers to have at least 10 hours of off-duty time between shifts.

Announced in April by FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker and initially set to go into effect in July, the policy also mandates ATCs who work midnight shifts to take 12 hours off.

The effective date was rolled back in May, however, amid agency discord with the National Air Traffic Controllers Association. FAA and NATCA announced July 24 that the sides had reached agreement and changes will be implemented as schedules are negotiated for next year.

NATCA previously issued a statement saying it welcomed the policy changes but was disappointed that FAA didn’t collaborate with the labor union when forming them. NATCA further claimed that FAA hadn’t adequately addressed how an ATC worker shortage could impact fatigue.

FAA said the policy resulted from a recent agency-commissioned report in which a panel of fatigue experts noted that sleep loss and extended wakefulness can trigger disruptions to ATCs’ circadian rhythms, leading to adverse effects on safety.

“The science is clear that controller fatigue is a public safety issue, and it must be addressed,” Whitaker said in a press release. “Today, after collaborating with NATCA, we are pleased to announce important progress for the flying public on the issue of fatigue. This is the beginning of our work, not the end. We will continue to collaborate and take steps to prioritize controllers’ health and well-being on behalf of the public.”

FAA says it’s on track to meet its goal of hiring 1,800 new ATCs this year.