DIRECTORATEOFAIRTRAFFICMANAGEMENT

RAJIVGANDHIBHAWAN,NEWDELHI110003 [FileNo.AAI/ATM/SQMS/29166/2010]

Doc.Id:ED/ATM/2011/2916601/ATMC/PROC

ATMC

AIRTRAFFICMANAGEMENTCIRCULARNO.7of2011
Stress/FatigueMitigationofATCOsRest&relief

1.

Introduction Air traffic controllers (ATCs) are generally considered one of the working groups havingto deal withahighlydemandingjob.Infact,itentailsacomplexsetof tasks requiring very high levels of knowledge and expertise, as well as the practical application of specific skills pertaining to cognitive domains (e.g. perception, information processing, logic reasoning, decision making), communicative aspects andhumanrelations.

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Fatigue is defined as a mental weariness resulting from exertion. Fatigue can be mental or physical and can manifest as either somnolence (decreased wakefulness) orasageneraldecreaseinattention.Fatiguecancauseproblemsforindividualswho perform tasks that require constant concentration, such as air traffic control. Additionally, the nature of air traffic control requires shift work, which can exacerbatefatiguebecauseitoftenrequiresindividualstoworkattimeswhenthey wouldnormallybesleepingorsleepattimeswhentheywouldnormallybeawake. Purpose PurposeofthisATMCistointroducethemandatoryreliefandrestforATCOsinsix airports (Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru and Shamshabad) and introducestress/fatiguemitigationmeasures. Scope ThisATMCisapplicabletoallairtrafficcontrollersworkingatATCcentres/ATCunits ofDelhi,Mumbai,Kolkata,Chennai,BengaluruandShamshabadairport.

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 ATMC7of2011

DirectorateofAirTrafficManagement

Stress/FatigueMitigationofATCOsRest&relief

4. 4.1

Rest&Relief Eachstationshouldensureprovisionofadequaterestandreliefmechanismswhich needtobestandardizedincludingsizeoftherestroom,numberofbedstobemade available,facilitiessuchastelevision,waterdispenserswithprovisionofbothhotand coldwater,refrigerators,microwaveovens,massagechairs,recliningchairs,Library facilities with both aviation subject and general materials, a well equipped gym, individualstoragelockerfacilityetc. The period on operational position (ATC Channel) should be adjusted to avoid the performancedegradationconsideringthevolumeandcomplexity.WSO/Supervisors ofunitsshallensureproperreliefofthecontrollerswhoareworkingonchannel. Nooperationaldutyshallexceedaperiodoftwohourswithouttherebeingtakenat theendofthatperiodabreak/reliefof30minutesexceptforsupervisorypositions andnonATCpositionsviz.,EEP,DEP,ARO,FIC,AISetc. Periodsofoperationaldutybetween2300hrsISTto0600hrsISTduringnightshift may be extended to a maximum of four hours before relief is provided. This relief periodmayoflongerduration. ThedutyperiodalongwithreliefperiodofATCOsshallbementionedintherosterby ATSincharge. PositionRotation All airports/ATC centres to establish procedures to rotate controllers through challengingandlessdemandingpositionsduringeachshifttomitigatethepotential forfatiguetooccur. IntervalbetweenPeriodofDuty There shall be an interval of not less than 12 hours between the conclusion of one periodofdutyandthecommencementofthenextperiodofduty. OtherStress/Fatiguerelievingmeasures Arrangement may be made for controllers to be trained in stress relieving mechanismssuchasYoga,Meditationetcatregularintervalbystationincharge.

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 ATMC7of2011

DirectorateofAirTrafficManagement

Stress/FatigueMitigationofATCOsRest&relief

8.

Queries

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Any queries or further guidance required on the contents of this ATMC should be addressedto: ExecutiveDirector[ATM] AirportsAuthorityofIndia RajivGandhiBhawan SafdarjungAirport NewDelhi110003 Email:edatm@aai.aero Validity

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ThisATMCwillremaininforceuntilfurthernotice.

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