CTO Fatigue Management & Human Factors 4

Question 1

A controller experiences a microsleep during a low-traffic overnight period. This event is BEST classified as:

Accepted Answer

A safety event requiring mandatory reporting and immediate relief

Answer

A normal physiological occurrence requiring no action

Answer

A minor lapse that can be self-corrected with caffeine

Answer

A medical emergency requiring emergency medical services

Question 2

Under the crew resource management (CRM) concept adapted for ATC, 'assertiveness' refers to:

Accepted Answer

Speaking up to prevent errors even when it challenges authority

Answer

Aggressively directing traffic during high-density periods

Answer

Overriding pilot requests without coordination

Answer

Refusing to accept instructions from supervisors

Question 3

Which caffeine strategy is MOST effective for sustaining ATC alertness during a night shift?

Accepted Answer

Consuming moderate amounts in the first half of the shift and avoiding it 4–6 hours before sleep

Answer

Drinking large amounts of coffee immediately before the shift begins

Answer

Using caffeine continuously throughout the entire shift

Answer

Avoiding all caffeine to prevent tolerance development

Question 4

The 'normalization of deviance' concept, as applied to ATC fatigue, describes:

Accepted Answer

Gradual acceptance of unsafe fatigue levels as routine over time

Answer

Sudden recognition of a new fatigue-related hazard

Answer

A controller's first experience with shift-work fatigue

Answer

Regulatory approval of modified rest requirements

Question 5

Which metric is the FAA's primary measure used to evaluate fatigue risk in controller scheduling under FRMS principles?

Accepted Answer

Predicted sleep duration based on schedule analysis

Answer

Number of operational errors per fiscal quarter

Answer

Total overtime hours worked per pay period

Answer

Controller self-reported fatigue survey scores

Question 6

A tower controller on a 'midnight' shift notices the post-lunch dip beginning around 1400 during a day-shift overlap. This dip is caused by:

Accepted Answer

A secondary circadian trough that occurs in the early afternoon

Answer

Digestion diverting blood flow away from the brain

Answer

Reduced radio traffic reducing cognitive stimulation

Answer

Dehydration from inadequate fluid intake during the shift

Question 7

When a controller suspects another controller has returned from a break still suffering from sleep inertia, the correct action is to:

Accepted Answer

Allow additional recovery time and notify the supervisor before they take position

Answer

Have the controller take position and monitor their performance remotely

Answer

Require the controller to complete a fatigue self-assessment form first

Answer

Immediately relieve the controller and file an ATSAP report