NATCA Not Surprised

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating why an air traffic controller responsible for directing planes in the Charleston, SC area fell asleep on the job early one morning last month.

FAA spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen says the unidentified employee was found asleep in the control tower of Charleston International Airport about 6:00am on September 13, by a co-worker arriving for the next shift.

"He allegedly dozed off for a few minutes," Bergen told The Associated Press. "We're looking into the circumstances surrounding the allegations that someone was sleeping on duty."

According to media reports, no flights were affected by the dozing controller... although five commercial flights were set to take off in the next half-hour. The controller in question was also responsible for handling all traffic within the Class C airspace surrounding the airport... and planes flying in and out of four other airports in the area.

Doctors have since cleared the employee to return to work. Bergen would not comment on whether the person was penalized.

A spokesman for the National Air Traffic Controllers Association -- union for the approximately 14,200 air traffic controllers nationwide -- said he's not necessarily surprised that a controller was found napping -- as most airport towers are understaffed, and controllers have to work six day work weeks to fill in the gaps.

"This is a tired work force, no doubt about it," said Doug Church. "There are fewer controllers handling more traffic than ever before."

FMI: www.faa.gov, www.natca.org