What are the precautions for the mental well-being of air traffic controllers?
The profession of Air Traffic Controller (CTA, in Portuguese) is one of the most important within the Brazilian Airspace Control System (SISCEAB). Responsible for ensuring the safety of flights, preventing collisions on the ground and in flight, in addition to maintaining the fluidity of air traffic, these professionals face high levels of adrenaline due to the full attention that the role requires. An operational error can result in plane accidents with serious consequences. The Department of Airspace Control (Decea) is responsible for the continuous operation of air traffic control in Brazil, with a staff of 4,524 controllers, of which 3,800 are directly involved in operational activities. The efficient distribution of work schedules is essential to ensure airspace monitoring 24 hours a day, throughout the year. However, concern for the physical — and, above all, mental — well-being of CTAs is a priority for the military body’s managers, who follow the guidelines of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) regarding management of fatigue. Adequate rest for professionals is essential for them to perform their duties safely and efficiently. Brazilian aeronautical legislation, through Aeronautics Command Instruction (ICA) 63-33, establishes clear rules for controllers’ workload and defines the creation, activation, and deactivation of operational positions, in addition to stipulating limits on hours worked and service schedules. To avoid cumulative fatigue, ICA 63-33 imposes limits on uninterrupted working time in operational positions, whether controllers in Area Control Centers (ACC), Approach Control (APP), or Control Towers (TWR) . In Control Towers, for example, in the so-called “Tower Position”, “Solo Position”, and “Traffic Position”, the teams are made up of at least two CTAs. One of them directly operates air traffic control, using the radio, while the other assists with other tasks. On busy days, the limit for working in the same position is two consecutive hours, while in bodies with less traffic, this limit can be increased to three hours. At the end of this period, controllers can take turns, assuming other positions or acting as assistants. During periods of low demand, such as national holidays, controllers can work for up to four uninterrupted hours, but according to Decea, these are exceptional situations. The work of psychologists trained to serve this specific audience is also essential to guarantee the well-being of controllers, especially after incidents or accidents, even when the CTA was not directly involved in causing the incident. Any atypical behavior among professionals is immediately dealt with by specialists, aiming to preserve operational safety. The combination of psychological support and efficient management of duty rosters, with adequate rest periods, is essential to maintain the safety and fluidity of Brazilian air traffic. – Quais são os cuidados para o bem-estar mental dos controladores de tráfego aéreo? (uol.com.br)