That’s too much gubbermint spending! AAAAAHHHHH!!! Cut their wages and contract the work to Halliburton. The free market will make it cheap for us to operate!
It’s widely known as one of the most stressful jobs around, with a very bad combination of (1) many lives on the line, (2) a lack of direct control, and (3) frequent and constant pressure in the larger airports particularly. Just sayin’.
1) If someone in the military falls asleep at their post (in theater), they are charged with any number of violations of the UCMJ and sent up the river to do hard time. This could be anything from desertion to abandonment of post to reckless endangerment.
2) If someone in the civilian side falls asleep at their post (when lives on at stake), instead of charging the person with reckless endangerment, they hire someone else to keep them awake. Hmm..
Typical government solution: Throw more money at it. Maybe it’ll work.
Dudes fell asleep or nodded off all the time on guard duty in the bunkers and towers- especially between 2 and 6 a.m. Waking up to find their claymores turned around was a “wake -up” call! Of course most attacks by us, or “them” are also made during that same period because humans aren’t designed to be alert and awake at that time, it’s physiology.
ATC at a busy airport IS the most stressful job outside of a combat firefight- pay should be matched to that, not political b.s.
^ I don’t know if they should be charged, but they should (at minimum) be fired. The job and risks aren’t as severe as those on guard duty. But there should be punishment, not coddling.
As for the physiology argument, you can train your clock to work at night and sleep during the day. It’s all about what you’re used to. I know. I pulled watch from 1800 - 0900 in Iraq.
Since (I think?) there’s a shortage of them, it might be better to look at training and behavioral changes (like having scheduled naps), rather than removing them from the pool.
Seems like there should always be two on duty, but maybe there aren’t enough to go around?
pirate227 about 13 years ago
It might help…
Carolo1 about 13 years ago
Their only gov.employs. they don’t deserve a sane schedule or reasonable working conditions. they will probley get a pay cut though
WarBush about 13 years ago
That’s too much gubbermint spending! AAAAAHHHHH!!! Cut their wages and contract the work to Halliburton. The free market will make it cheap for us to operate!
Motivemagus about 13 years ago
It’s widely known as one of the most stressful jobs around, with a very bad combination of (1) many lives on the line, (2) a lack of direct control, and (3) frequent and constant pressure in the larger airports particularly. Just sayin’.
Wraithkin about 13 years ago
I find it amusing the comparison here.
1) If someone in the military falls asleep at their post (in theater), they are charged with any number of violations of the UCMJ and sent up the river to do hard time. This could be anything from desertion to abandonment of post to reckless endangerment.
2) If someone in the civilian side falls asleep at their post (when lives on at stake), instead of charging the person with reckless endangerment, they hire someone else to keep them awake. Hmm..
Typical government solution: Throw more money at it. Maybe it’ll work.
Dtroutma about 13 years ago
Dudes fell asleep or nodded off all the time on guard duty in the bunkers and towers- especially between 2 and 6 a.m. Waking up to find their claymores turned around was a “wake -up” call! Of course most attacks by us, or “them” are also made during that same period because humans aren’t designed to be alert and awake at that time, it’s physiology.
ATC at a busy airport IS the most stressful job outside of a combat firefight- pay should be matched to that, not political b.s.
riley05 about 13 years ago
So your solution, Wraith, is to throw any air traffic controller in prison if he dozes off on the job.
Who will you get to replace him?
And since having the government “throw more money at it” is something you’re against, who is going to pay for the prison stay of these controllers?
Wraithkin about 13 years ago
^ I don’t know if they should be charged, but they should (at minimum) be fired. The job and risks aren’t as severe as those on guard duty. But there should be punishment, not coddling.
As for the physiology argument, you can train your clock to work at night and sleep during the day. It’s all about what you’re used to. I know. I pulled watch from 1800 - 0900 in Iraq.
riley05 about 13 years ago
Since (I think?) there’s a shortage of them, it might be better to look at training and behavioral changes (like having scheduled naps), rather than removing them from the pool.
Seems like there should always be two on duty, but maybe there aren’t enough to go around?