NTL Record

Title Sleep in air traffic controllers.
Record ID 39304
Personal Name
Creator
Saldivar, J.T.; Hoffman, S.M.; Melton, C.E.
Corporate Creator Civil Aeromedical Institute
Corporate
Contributor
United States. Office of Aviation Medicine
Publisher Civil Aerospace Medical Institute
Publication Date 19770200
Language English
Abstract Data obtained from sleep logs maintained for a period of 5 weeks by 185 air traffic controllers indicate that on a weekly basis there is no significant difference in the amount of sleep obtained by controllers working the 2-2-1 rotation pattern and that obtained by those on the 5-day rotation pattern. Controllers working the 2-2-1 rotation pattern slept significantly less prior to the midshift than they did before the evening and day shifts. On both the 2-2-1 and 5-day rotation patterns, the most sleep obtained was on the evening shift followed by the day shift and midshift respectively. Approximately half the controllers indicated satisfaction with their present shift rotations; however, preferences indicate that they would prefer to work a shift rotation that excluded the midshift. Age and experience do not appear to be related to pattern of sleep or amount of sleep obtained. 'Fatigue', 'weakness', and 'somnolence' were complaints most often expressed on the midshift on both rotation patterns.
Rosap ID dot:21097
Rosap URL https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/21097
TRT Terms Air traffic controllers; Sleep; Shifts; Night shifts; Physiological stress; Age; Knowledge; Questionnaires
General Subjects Air traffic controllers; Sleep; Hours of labor; Stress (Physiology); Age; Experience; Questionnaires
Classification NTL - AVIATION - Air Traffic Control;
NTL - AVIATION - Aviation Human Factors;
NTL - SAFETY AND SECURITY - Human Factors;
NTL - PLANNING AND POLICY - Surveys
Geographical
Coverage
United States
Report Number FAA-AM-77-5; DOT/FAA/AM-77/5
Resource type Tech Report
URL https://ntlrepository.blob.core.windows.net/lib/39000/39300/39304/AM77-05.pdf
Format PDF
Database NTL Digital Repository