An Air Traffic Controller (ATC) operates the air traffic system to maintain a safe and orderly flow of air traffic. Considered one of the most difficult jobs today an ATC continuously battles insurmountable stress. Their responsible for the safety of thousands of people. An ATC works with countless variables such as equipment configurations, weather, traffic volume, terrorism, etc.A candidate for this position must possess certain skills, educational requirements, and then be certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). A myriad of rules and regulations must be adhered to unless a certificate of waiver is approved by the FAA. A waiver is a voluntary relinquishing of a right or privileged. In reference to an Air Traffic Controller, the FAA is the party who usually waives standard criteria and rules for the betterment of the traffic control system. The opposite would take place if the ATC has issues with age standards or medical requirements.
Why does the Federal Aviation Administration still use a waiver program and when Since there are literally hundreds of regulations, standards, and criteria for Air Traffic Controllers must be followed. However, a waiver program gives the FAA flexibility, a legal option to waive any of the rules deemed necessary. As a regulatory organization they issued, Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 91, Letters of Authorization (LOA) for Special Areas of Operation (SAO), waivers, deviations, and other authorizations from the Automated Operations Safety System (OPSS) (Ballough. 2006). Post September 1, 2001 it became critical to develop a system that could track part 91 using Letters of Operations, which included waivers.
The FAA should keep this practice of accountable authorizations current, and traceable. Flight standards determined that at he OPSS is the best method available to track authorizations issued by the FAA (Ballough.2006).
Code 91.903 of the FAA states that an Administrator can issue a waiver giving permission for an ATC to detour from the list of rules in section 91.905 regarding flight issues. There are several regulations including operating near other aircraft, aircraft speed, compliance with ATC clearance instructions, altimeter settings, and flights between Mexico or Canada and the United States (justia.com.n.d). Waivers are given to permit the Air Traffic Controller to accommodate any unforeseen concerns when their in the air. For examples waivers may be issued to allow flying over restricted areas for a specific period of time, to give permission to fly in certain weather conditions, and with safety issues always a priority, a waiver can be authorized whenever necessary.
Most standards that are waived relate to medical and age issues. This paper will
concentrate on medical standards and waivers, however a brief overview of the age guidelines is needed, because they correspond with medical regulations. According to the National Air Traffic Controllers Association the minimum age to be an Air Traffic Controller is thirty years of age or younger, and a maximum age of thirty-one. The retirement age is fifty-six years old. The FAA has issued waivers for these standards based on the ATCs cognitive skills, experience and record, and overall health. To receive a waiver for an age standard, the ATC is given numerous medical and psychological testing.
Air Traffic Controllers have to be truly dedicated to their position. Before being certified by the FAA, they have to meet stringent requirements, graduate from one of the thirty-one FAA approved schools (specifically designated for ATCs only), and pass a battery of physical and psychological testing. They also need 350 hours of flight time and have a private certificate or equivalent Armed Forces rating (opm.gov.n.d.).
Applicants for an ATC position must meet the following medical requirements
Eye Must demonstrate distance and near 2020 vision in each eye separately. A waiver may be issued for the use of contact lenses to correct near sightedness this is not always approved it is based on the severity of the vision problem.
Color vision The ability to perceive color, is essential for an ATC. Night flying requires the ATC to distinguish red and green position locating lights on aircraft, LED readouts on the instrumentation and warning lights in the cockpit (aviation medicine.com. n.d.). A waiver may be issued if the ATC does not meet one of the color vision standards saying Not valid for night flying or by color signal control (aviation medicine.com.n.d.).
Ears, Nose, Throat, and Mouth Examination must show no outer, middle, or inner ear disease (opm.gov.n.d.). No active disease, or perforation of either eardrum. The applicant must demonstrate clearly understandable speech, and absence of stuttering or stammering (opm.gov.n.d.). No hearing loss in either ear. A waiver for any of these criteria is unlikely, however not out of the question. It would depend on the severity of the problem.
Cardiovascular Applicant must have no medical history of heart disease. Blood pressure must be normal according to medical standards. X-ray of the heart size must show a normal size heart. There are waivers given when the applicant has controlled high blood pressure and cholesterol with medication, keeping the
levels according to guidelines. No waivers are given for any other cardiovascular problems, the applicant would be disqualified.
Neurological No medical history of convulsions, disturbance of consciousness, and is in any form of treatment. Again there is no room for waivers the applicant would be disqualified.
Musculoskeletal No spine or limb deformities. No absence of any extremity or digit or any portion (opm.gov.n.d.). No medical condition that induces fatigue. Depending on the severity of the musculoskeletal issues, and other pertinent factors, the FAA may issue certain waivers.
General Medical No history of diabetes, body must be able to sit in an ordinary office armchair (opm.org.n.d.). This area involves laboratory work-ups, consultants, and additional examinations. Waivers may be issued depending on the findings.
Psychiatric No medical history of a psychosis, neurosis, or any disorder that clearly demonstrates a potential hazard, safety in the air traffic control system (opm.gov.n.d.). Waivers were not issued for psychiatric disorders until recently.
The FAA announced on April 15, 2010that they would consider a waiver to aviation personnel taking medication for depression. Four medication are currently approved Prozac, Zoloft, Celexa, and Lexapro more may be added when sufficient data is approved by the FAA of the drugs side affects.
Substance Dependency Laboratory tests determine the presence or absence of any dependency substance including alcohol, narcotic, and non-narcotic drugs (opm.gov.n.d.). A waiver may be issued with the stipulation that a urine test be done each time the ATC is about to start their shift. The applicant must agree to any waivers or they are disqualified.
Obviously once an applicant becomes an Air Traffic Controller their medical and psychological health is a priority and closely monitored by the Authorized Medical Examiner (AME). A decrease in medical fitness is an FAA violation an ATC is required to have a minimum standard of medical fitnessto ensure the risk that they will become suddenly incapacitated to an extent that the safety of aircraft would be compromised (opm.org. n.d.). The ATC must renew their Medical Certificate every two years, at this time they consent to a medical exam, and must pass. At age forty, it is an annual renewal.
The FAA uses as many means available to assist in issuing medical waivers. There is a designated medical facility called, My Flight Surgeon that gives air traffic controllers and pilots help in attaining an FAA medical waiver.
The Flight Surgeons
Mission is to provide the highest level of comprehensivemedical care encompassing FAA Medical Certification and assistance with certification problems (myflightsurgeion.comm.2005). They are linked to the FAA MedXpress, which helps in determining if a waiver should be issued. The FAAs bottom-line in writing any waiver is never to compromise the safety of the Air Traffic Controller or passengers.
Why does the Federal Aviation Administration still use a waiver program and when Since there are literally hundreds of regulations, standards, and criteria for Air Traffic Controllers must be followed. However, a waiver program gives the FAA flexibility, a legal option to waive any of the rules deemed necessary. As a regulatory organization they issued, Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 91, Letters of Authorization (LOA) for Special Areas of Operation (SAO), waivers, deviations, and other authorizations from the Automated Operations Safety System (OPSS) (Ballough. 2006). Post September 1, 2001 it became critical to develop a system that could track part 91 using Letters of Operations, which included waivers.
The FAA should keep this practice of accountable authorizations current, and traceable. Flight standards determined that at he OPSS is the best method available to track authorizations issued by the FAA (Ballough.2006).
Code 91.903 of the FAA states that an Administrator can issue a waiver giving permission for an ATC to detour from the list of rules in section 91.905 regarding flight issues. There are several regulations including operating near other aircraft, aircraft speed, compliance with ATC clearance instructions, altimeter settings, and flights between Mexico or Canada and the United States (justia.com.n.d). Waivers are given to permit the Air Traffic Controller to accommodate any unforeseen concerns when their in the air. For examples waivers may be issued to allow flying over restricted areas for a specific period of time, to give permission to fly in certain weather conditions, and with safety issues always a priority, a waiver can be authorized whenever necessary.
Most standards that are waived relate to medical and age issues. This paper will
concentrate on medical standards and waivers, however a brief overview of the age guidelines is needed, because they correspond with medical regulations. According to the National Air Traffic Controllers Association the minimum age to be an Air Traffic Controller is thirty years of age or younger, and a maximum age of thirty-one. The retirement age is fifty-six years old. The FAA has issued waivers for these standards based on the ATCs cognitive skills, experience and record, and overall health. To receive a waiver for an age standard, the ATC is given numerous medical and psychological testing.
Air Traffic Controllers have to be truly dedicated to their position. Before being certified by the FAA, they have to meet stringent requirements, graduate from one of the thirty-one FAA approved schools (specifically designated for ATCs only), and pass a battery of physical and psychological testing. They also need 350 hours of flight time and have a private certificate or equivalent Armed Forces rating (opm.gov.n.d.).
Applicants for an ATC position must meet the following medical requirements
Eye Must demonstrate distance and near 2020 vision in each eye separately. A waiver may be issued for the use of contact lenses to correct near sightedness this is not always approved it is based on the severity of the vision problem.
Color vision The ability to perceive color, is essential for an ATC. Night flying requires the ATC to distinguish red and green position locating lights on aircraft, LED readouts on the instrumentation and warning lights in the cockpit (aviation medicine.com. n.d.). A waiver may be issued if the ATC does not meet one of the color vision standards saying Not valid for night flying or by color signal control (aviation medicine.com.n.d.).
Ears, Nose, Throat, and Mouth Examination must show no outer, middle, or inner ear disease (opm.gov.n.d.). No active disease, or perforation of either eardrum. The applicant must demonstrate clearly understandable speech, and absence of stuttering or stammering (opm.gov.n.d.). No hearing loss in either ear. A waiver for any of these criteria is unlikely, however not out of the question. It would depend on the severity of the problem.
Cardiovascular Applicant must have no medical history of heart disease. Blood pressure must be normal according to medical standards. X-ray of the heart size must show a normal size heart. There are waivers given when the applicant has controlled high blood pressure and cholesterol with medication, keeping the
levels according to guidelines. No waivers are given for any other cardiovascular problems, the applicant would be disqualified.
Neurological No medical history of convulsions, disturbance of consciousness, and is in any form of treatment. Again there is no room for waivers the applicant would be disqualified.
Musculoskeletal No spine or limb deformities. No absence of any extremity or digit or any portion (opm.gov.n.d.). No medical condition that induces fatigue. Depending on the severity of the musculoskeletal issues, and other pertinent factors, the FAA may issue certain waivers.
General Medical No history of diabetes, body must be able to sit in an ordinary office armchair (opm.org.n.d.). This area involves laboratory work-ups, consultants, and additional examinations. Waivers may be issued depending on the findings.
Psychiatric No medical history of a psychosis, neurosis, or any disorder that clearly demonstrates a potential hazard, safety in the air traffic control system (opm.gov.n.d.). Waivers were not issued for psychiatric disorders until recently.
The FAA announced on April 15, 2010that they would consider a waiver to aviation personnel taking medication for depression. Four medication are currently approved Prozac, Zoloft, Celexa, and Lexapro more may be added when sufficient data is approved by the FAA of the drugs side affects.
Substance Dependency Laboratory tests determine the presence or absence of any dependency substance including alcohol, narcotic, and non-narcotic drugs (opm.gov.n.d.). A waiver may be issued with the stipulation that a urine test be done each time the ATC is about to start their shift. The applicant must agree to any waivers or they are disqualified.
Obviously once an applicant becomes an Air Traffic Controller their medical and psychological health is a priority and closely monitored by the Authorized Medical Examiner (AME). A decrease in medical fitness is an FAA violation an ATC is required to have a minimum standard of medical fitnessto ensure the risk that they will become suddenly incapacitated to an extent that the safety of aircraft would be compromised (opm.org. n.d.). The ATC must renew their Medical Certificate every two years, at this time they consent to a medical exam, and must pass. At age forty, it is an annual renewal.
The FAA uses as many means available to assist in issuing medical waivers. There is a designated medical facility called, My Flight Surgeon that gives air traffic controllers and pilots help in attaining an FAA medical waiver.
The Flight Surgeons
Mission is to provide the highest level of comprehensivemedical care encompassing FAA Medical Certification and assistance with certification problems (myflightsurgeion.comm.2005). They are linked to the FAA MedXpress, which helps in determining if a waiver should be issued. The FAAs bottom-line in writing any waiver is never to compromise the safety of the Air Traffic Controller or passengers.
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