Dean Rudolph

New Post: New FAA rest rules to address ‘fatigue’ issues with air traffic controllers -The Federal Aviation Administration is instituting new rest rules for U.S. air traffic controllers to address fatigue issues that may be degrading air safety. Controllers will now be required to take 10 hours off between shifts and 12 hours off before a midnight shift. The mandate will take effect in 90 days, FAA Administrator Michael... The Federal Aviation Administration is instituting new rest rules for U.S. air traffic controllers to address fatigue issues that may be degrading air safety.Controllers will now be required to take 10 hours off between shifts and 12 hours off before a midnight shift. The mandate will take effect in 90 days, FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker said in a statement Friday."In my first few months at the helm of the FAA, I toured air traffic control facilities around the country — and heard concerns about schedules that do not always allow controllers to get enough rest," he said. "With the safety of our controllers and national airspace always top of mind for FAA, I took this very seriously — and we’re taking action." In a statement following the release of the new mandate, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association said that while it appreciated the FAA's attempt to address the fatigue issue, it was alarmed that the agency did not coordinate the new rules with them. It also warned said the new rules could backfire given current staffing shortage issues. Recommended"NATCA is concerned that with an already understaffed controller workforce, immediate application of the Administrator’s new rules may lead to coverage holes in air traffic facilities’ schedules," it said. "These holes may affect National Airspace System capacity. Requiring controllers to work mandatory overtime to fill those holes would increase fatigue and make the new policy nothing more than window dressing."The new mandate comes amid heightened scrutiny of U.S. air safety. On Thursday, the FAA announced it was investigating a near-miss incident at Washington's Reagan International Airport. A string of near-miss incidents last year led acting Administrator Billy Nolen to convene an emergency summit on U.S. air safety systems. Whitaker, who took over as FAA chief in October, commissioned a study on fatigue within weeks of taking office. The subsequent 114-page report found, among other things, that sleep loss, especially in the context of night work and rotating shifts, "engender known safety and performance decrements that can lead to errors, incidents, and accidents."Rob Wile is a breaking business news reporter for NBC News Digital. Source link

Federal Aviation Administration and NATIONAL AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS ASSOCIATION NATCA LOCAL Today, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced an agreement with the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) to ensure air traffic controllers receive adequate rest between shifts and can continue to safely do their essential work. This agreement will enable the implementation of long-term, systematic changes following the identified opportunities in the report from a panel of experts. https://hubs.la/Q02HW7z10

New Post: New FAA rest rules to address ‘fatigue’ issues with air traffic controllers -The Federal Aviation Administration is instituting new rest rules for U.S. air traffic controllers to address fatigue issues that may be degrading air safety. Controllers will now be required to take 10 hours off between shifts and 12 hours off before a midnight shift. The mandate will take effect in 90 days, FAA Administrator Michael... The Federal Aviation Administration is instituting new rest rules for U.S. air traffic controllers to address fatigue issues that may be degrading air safety.Controllers will now be required to take 10 hours off between shifts and 12 hours off before a midnight shift. The mandate will take effect in 90 days, FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker said in a statement Friday."In my first few months at the helm of the FAA, I toured air traffic control facilities around the country — and heard concerns about schedules that do not always allow controllers to get enough rest," he said. "With the safety of our controllers and national airspace always top of mind for FAA, I took this very seriously — and we’re taking action." In a statement following the release of the new mandate, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association said that while it appreciated the FAA's attempt to address the fatigue issue, it was alarmed that the agency did not coordinate the new rules with them. It also warned said the new rules could backfire given current staffing shortage issues. Recommended"NATCA is concerned that with an already understaffed controller workforce, immediate application of the Administrator’s new rules may lead to coverage holes in air traffic facilities’ schedules," it said. "These holes may affect National Airspace System capacity. Requiring controllers to work mandatory overtime to fill those holes would increase fatigue and make the new policy nothing more than window dressing."The new mandate comes amid heightened scrutiny of U.S. air safety. On Thursday, the FAA announced it was investigating a near-miss incident at Washington's Reagan International Airport. A string of near-miss incidents last year led acting Administrator Billy Nolen to convene an emergency summit on U.S. air safety systems. Whitaker, who took over as FAA chief in October, commissioned a study on fatigue within weeks of taking office. The subsequent 114-page report found, among other things, that sleep loss, especially in the context of night work and rotating shifts, "engender known safety and performance decrements that can lead to errors, incidents, and accidents."Rob Wile is a breaking business news reporter for NBC News Digital. Source link

New Post: New FAA rest rules to address ‘fatigue’ issues with air traffic controllers -The Federal Aviation Administration is instituting new rest rules for U.S. air traffic controllers to address fatigue issues that may be degrading air safety. Controllers will now be required to take 10 hours off between shifts and 12 hours off before a midnight shift. The mandate will take effect in 90 days, FAA Administrator Michael... The Federal Aviation Administration is instituting new rest rules for U.S. air traffic controllers to address fatigue issues that may be degrading air safety.Controllers will now be required to take 10 hours off between shifts and 12 hours off before a midnight shift. The mandate will take effect in 90 days, FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker said in a statement Friday."In my first few months at the helm of the FAA, I toured air traffic control facilities around the country — and heard concerns about schedules that do not always allow controllers to get enough rest," he said. "With the safety of our controllers and national airspace always top of mind for FAA, I took this very seriously — and we’re taking action." In a statement following the release of the new mandate, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association said that while it appreciated the FAA's attempt to address the fatigue issue, it was alarmed that the agency did not coordinate the new rules with them. It also warned said the new rules could backfire given current staffing shortage issues. Recommended"NATCA is concerned that with an already understaffed controller workforce, immediate application of the Administrator’s new rules may lead to coverage holes in air traffic facilities’ schedules," it said. "These holes may affect National Airspace System capacity. Requiring controllers to work mandatory overtime to fill those holes would increase fatigue and make the new policy nothing more than window dressing."The new mandate comes amid heightened scrutiny of U.S. air safety. On Thursday, the FAA announced it was investigating a near-miss incident at Washington's Reagan International Airport. A string of near-miss incidents last year led acting Administrator Billy Nolen to convene an emergency summit on U.S. air safety systems. Whitaker, who took over as FAA chief in October, commissioned a study on fatigue within weeks of taking office. The subsequent 114-page report found, among other things, that sleep loss, especially in the context of night work and rotating shifts, "engender known safety and performance decrements that can lead to errors, incidents, and accidents."Rob Wile is a breaking business news reporter for NBC News Digital. Source link

More on #aviationworkforce to include #manufacturing from FAA #reuathorization. Sec. 440. Improving Federal Aviation Workforce Development Programs Beginning on October 1, 2024, this section amends section 625 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 (the Aviation Workforce Development Programs) to establish a new #aviationmanufacturing workforce development program to support the education and recruitment of aviation manufacturing technical workers and aerospace engineers. Includes funding levels for the #aviationmaintenance, #aircraftpilot, and #aviationmanufacturing development programs at $20 million respectively for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2028. Beginning on October 1, 2027, the DOT will assume responsibility for the administration of the Aviation Workforce Development Programs (which is currently administered by the FAA); which will be redesignated as the “Cooperative Aviation Recruitment, Enrichment, and Employment Readiness (CAREER) Program” beginning on October 1, 2027. Increases the maximum award amount limit for all three workforce development programs to $1 million (up from $500,000) for an eligible entity in any 1 fiscal year. This section also specifies that the Secretary may give consideration to applicants that provide an assurance to use grant funds to address certain workforce needs, including to encourage the participation of populations that are underrepresented in the aviation industry and strengthen aviation programs at certain higher education institutions among other considerations. Additionally, this section establishes a 20% set-aside of funding made available under this section for the Willa Brown Aviation Education Program to support eligible projects in low-income communities; as well as creating a 2% set-aside to provide technical assistance to program applicants. This section also directs DOT to consider applicants that will use grant funds for projects focused on underrepresented groups in the aviation industry. Requires establishment of reasonable reporting and monitoring requirements to measure program outcomes.Secretary may consult with the Secretary of Education in reviewing grant applications, among other activities. Lastly, this section requires the Secretary to submit a report to Congress on the implementation of the grant program as administered between fiscal years 2025 through 2028. 28 Sec. 441. National Strategic Plan for Aviation Workforce Development This section requires DOT establish a national strategic plan to improve the recruitment, hiring, and retention of the civil aviation workforce. In addition, this section establishes the CAREER Council, a group of aviation industry experts appointed DOT and tasked with assisting in the development and maintenance of the national strategic plan. The CAREER Council is also responsible for providing advice to the Secretary, as appropriate, relating to the CAREER Program established under section 631. Dana Donati Ralph Coppola Brett Levanto