You think first day mids are a good idea? Outside of that or occasionally forcing people into a week of mids, explain to me how this can work. I think a good starting point could have been 10 hours between all shifts. Forcing a 12 hour rule either shows that the FAA doesn't understand how facilities actually staff or they are so hell bent on getting rid of the day/mid that they don't care what happens in regards to the rest of a controller's life/schedule.
Do you work at a 24 hour facility with OT?
Controllers aren't tired because they had 9 hours off opposed to 10 but rather because we get 4 days off all month. Rich got that correct in his letter.
I absolutely agree with you on most points. 4 days off a month is shit garbage and Contributes to constant fatigue. These rules will make people eligible for less overtime. Holdover busting next assigned work shift and call outs being unable to be filled with OT.
The solution is making rules and procedures that align with our staffing reality.
Example: If your facility has 15 bodies, then your facility is no longer a 24 hour facility.
Example: 1/2 of your bodies in for the day, the arrival rate goes down 25%.
First day mids shouldn't be mandatory but they should be an option for facilities who want them. Admin for shifts still currently applies for duty rest requirements but let's give an example of it working:
Monday - 1400-2200 (admin 2200-0000)
Tuesday - 1000-1800 (admin 1800-2000)
Wednesday - 0500-1300 (admin 1300-1500)
Thursday - x
Friday - 2145-0545 (admin 0545-0745)
Why did creativity stop after covid?
Edit because my times were wrong
And not at a 24 hour right now but have worked at an understaffed 24 hr facility on 6 day weeks.
Anyone I've ever told about working a shift at 6 in the morning and then coming in to work a midnight shift with our job has been shocked and appaled. And they're right. Its fucking stupid.