Air Traffic Control Aviation FAQ

Most authorities restrict controllers to 8–10 hours per shift (night duty often capped at 8). A minimum of 11 consecutive hours of rest must follow each shift, and at least 35 hours after a run of night duties. Weekly duty time is usually limited to 40 hours on average, although the FAA allows 6 shifts in 7 days if total hours stay within that figure. Regulations also require a break of 20–30 minutes every 2–3 hours at the console to prevent fatigue. These limits are embedded in ICAO guidelines and mirrored by the FAA’s JO 7210.3 and EASA’s ATM/ANS regulation, with collective agreements able to impose stricter caps.