[ExTxMarine]

THIS is how the Obama Administration CUTS SPENDING?!?!?!?!

[mikey_hates_everything]

Jobs!

[dynachrome]

Distribute meth to ‘em.

[randog]

I guess a dead man switch in the tower would have been too complicated.

[org.whodat]

Democrats, fake up all this crap, now we can add more democrats voters to the number of government employees. Every little airport in the country just doubled its over head.

[JoeProBono]

[Retired Greyhound]

The ATC Union probably did this intentionally.

[diogenes ghost]

Most ARTCC's man mid-shifts with two controllers working each area's combined sectors. It's easy for one to handle, so it is SOP for them to split the shift....usually both work for 1/2 hour or so, then alternate 3 hour sleep sessions, then both work last 1/2 hour before day shift shows up.

I worked one mid shift per week for 35 years. I left Chicago Center in '82, no sleeping there, but I imagine that has changed as the union got stronger.

Spent 22 years in JAX, was always senior guy on my mids & never allowed sleeping, even though all other areas did. But it did allow guys who thought like me to bid as my mid-partner, it was not a popular bid-line with the union guys.

[caddie]

Make them work alone as before but with sharpened pencils stuck in their nose holes. Then if they nod off they'll jam the pencils into their brains (and wake up).

Much less expensive solution.

[black_diamond]

I think they need at least 3. One to do air traffic control. A second to make sure the first one stays awake. A third to make sure the second one stays awake. Hell, it’s a jobs program. We could employ all of America in the control towers!

[Secret Agent Man]

Just have them wear those behind-the-ear nod-off devices drivers wear that beep or shriek when your head tilts forward.

[mia]

It doesn't even make sense to have one man at the controls. Unexpected things can happen. Who takes over when the lone controller has to go to the restroom? Who is there to help if the man or woman has a medical emergency?

Having one person in charge is irresponsible.

[docnakona]

The Law of Unintended Consequences kicks in at 3-2-1....

So up until now smaller regional airports like Reno could afford to have a single ATC on at night. Big centers like LAX and DFW already have multiple on all shifts. So when the towers are REQUIRED to have 2 or more, how long until smaller airports just shot down altogether at night?

[BradyLS]

I’m amazed that only one is needed in the tower during a shift. I would have guessed that, after 9/11 at the least, there would be two on duty at all times and probably a shift supervisor to spell one in the event one has to leave their station.

And sleeping? No sleeping on duty for any reason—ever!