NTSB Fatigue threatens air safety
Sleep-deprived air traffic controllers had a role in at least four nearly fatal incidents on the nation's runways. The controller on duty in the during Comair Flight 5191 crash in Lexington, Ky got only two hours of sleep, federal accident investigators said. "Fatigue decreases aviation safety," the National Transpiration Safety Board (NTSB) said in a letter urging reform in air traffic scheduling and training. The NTSB said the problem of tired controllers is exacerbated by scheduling two eight-hour shifts within 24 hours. The safety board said the Federal Aviation Administration, which employs controllers and regulates aviation, does "not adequately consider the potential impact of work scheduling on fatigue and performance." It also found that controllers interviewed after incidents often admitted that they didn't make it a priority to get enough sleep.
