The international radio-telephony urgency signal. When repeated
three times, pan-pan indicates uncertainty or alert, followed by
the nature of the urgency.
“Air traffic controller fatigue continues to be a human
factors issue affecting runway safety ... We found that as of May
2007, at least 20 percent of the controllers at 25 air traffic
control facilities, including towers at several of the
country’s busiest airports, were regularly working six-day
weeks.”
Source: From a report on runway incursions
released this week by the Government Accountability Office. The
National Air Traffic Controllers Association -- locked in a bitter
fight with FAA management over a new contract -- applauded the
GAO's recognition of fatigue as a potential factor in the rise of
such incidents.
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