NATCA's on Death-Watch

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association is keeping a close eye on the FAA's struggle to keep its head above water on the ATC manning front. Understaffing at the Alaskan TRACON (Terminal Radar Control Center) has dropped to an all-time low, just as trainees doing on-the-job training has reached an all-time high and new equipment is being introduced. Out of the 16 veteran controllers remaining, nine are eligible to retire. Error rates are starting to climb and these tend to increase the controller stress levels. The FAA management solution to this staffing shortage is mandatory overtime; a six-day working week often including two midnight shifts. Construction and installation is continuing in the control room as controllers are learning to come to terms with their new STARS equipment. They understandably complain that situation to be a distraction. The Agency's own staffing guidelines had required 16 controllers per day to staff the Alaskan facility, but now they're making do with 11. According to NATCA, the agency recently began ordering controllers to stay at their consoles beyond the two hours that the union says is the "longest possible period that controllers should ever work to ensure safety and allow them adequate rest periods." Even though traffic is increasing, the FAA recently reduced the minimum staffing levels at hundreds of facilities by as much as 26 percent. NATCA claims the reductions are reducing safety margins and increasing controller fatigue. It certainly appears as if the FAA is trying to ascertain whether the system is a rubber band with finite stretch limits - or an unbreakable bungee cord.