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After a tumultuous roll out, the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) have finalized previously announced changes to air traffic control (ATC) fatigue and rest rules in an announcement that falls in line with recommendations made by a panel of fatigue experts earlier this year.
Related: New ATC rest rules set up possible showdown between FAA and NATCA
The finalized rules largely coincide with FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker’s initial proposal from April, an announcement that was the subject of significant backlash from NATCA for the lack of involvement that the union was given in creating the rule changes. As first reported by The Air Current, shortly following the rollout, the FAA rolled back a previously published commitment to implement the changes within 90 days.
The revisions solidify a longer 10 hour period between shifts and a 12 hour period both before and after a mid shift, which is defined as a shift where the majority of hours are worked between 10:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m.
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