THE US Government is changing air traffic controllers’ work schedules most likely to cause fatigue following another incident in which a controller fell asleep while on duty, this time at a radar centre in Miami, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) says.

The latest sleeping incident – the fifth to be disclosed by the FAA since late March – occurred early on Saturday morning local time at a busy regional facility that handles high-altitude air traffic, the FAA said in a statement.

According to a preliminary review of air traffic tapes, the controller did not miss any calls from aircraft and there was no impact to flight operations, the agency said. The controller, who was working an overnight shift, has been suspended.

Prior to the start of the shift, all controllers were given a briefing on professionalism and the importance of reporting to work fit for duty, FAA said.

Full article here…