Air traffic controller slept across 2 chairs on duty, probe finds

A Brisbane air traffic controller was found lying asleep across two chairs while on duty in December 2022. An ATSB investigation into the incident concluded that the employee had worked multiple night shifts in a row with “reduced extended rest periods”, which likely reduced their ability to “obtain restorative sleep”. While no flights were scheduled until after the shift ended, investigators ruled that “sleep inertia” could have delayed their communication in the event of an unexpected broadcast. In its final report into the incident, the transport safety watchdog found “several factors” that had led to the controller falling asleep. “These included the time of day, the very low workload in their sector, a roster pattern with multiple consecutive night shifts, and the controller increasing their risk of falling asleep by lying across two chairs, not moving, and not undertaking activities to maintain mental alertness,” said ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell. While the airspace was clear at the time, Mitchell noted that, had the controller been woken up by a radio broadcast, they would have risked “sleep inertia” delaying their communications and causing them to give incorrect instructions, as well as difficulty managing any airspace conflicts from aircraft operating without clearance. “There were no negative consequences from this occurrence, but it does highlight areas for improvement in work scheduling and fatigue risk management,” he said.<br/>