WASHINGTON (AP) — The government has come out with new scheduling rules to give air traffic controllers more time tp rest between shifts.
The Federal Aviation Administration has acknowledged there's a widespread problem with tired controllers. In recent weeks there have been several instances of controllers who have dozed off while on duty. The latest happened early Saturday on a late-night shift in Miami.
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood says there's "zero tolerance for sleeping on the job."
New rules announced Sunday will give controllers at least nine hours off between shifts, compared with eight now. Controllers won't be able to swap shifts unless there's at least nine hours time off from the end of one shift to the start of the other.