ANSPs have considered implementing SPO and removing 4EP. Factors inducing SPO: staff shortages, night shifts, introducing automation and technical tools to better predict conflicting traffic, etc. When SPO is applied, there is no “Human Safety Net” and when working alone, it does increase fatigue.
IFATCA Policy is:Single or Lone Person Operations (SPO/LPO) shall be avoided. The use of SPO/LPO should be strongly discouraged by MAs, both through ANSP and their regulator. If providers choose to operate SPO/LPO, they shall bear the responsibility for the resulting risk(s) to the system. If SPO/LPO occurs, appropriate measures shall be taken to ensure that the SPO/LPO situation changes to another manning scenario. Until such time, measures shall be taken to mitigate all impacts of SPO/LPO, such as, but not limited to: traffic regulation, work break provisions, and informing neighbouring ATC units. Procedures shall be in place to implement such measures in an efficient way, without increasing the workload of the ATCO. |
| See: WP 158 – Bali 2013, WP 154 – Gran Canaria 2014, Resolution C7 – WP 155 – Conchal 2019, Resolution C37 – WP 79 – Virtual 2022 |
Last Update: August 11, 2022