Air traffic controller silhouetted against a sky filled with clocks, symbolizing disrupted sleep.

Sleepless Skies: Are Air Traffic Controllers Facing a Hidden Health Crisis?

Rhea Morgan in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"A Brazilian study reveals the alarming rates of excessive sleepiness among air traffic controllers, raising concerns about safety and well-being."

Air traffic controllers (ATCos) shoulder immense responsibility, ensuring the safe and efficient flow of air travel. Unlike typical 9-to-5 jobs, their work involves irregular shifts, demanding constant vigilance and quick decision-making at all hours. But what impact do these demanding schedules have on their health, particularly their sleep?

A recent study conducted in Brazil sheds light on a concerning issue: excessive sleepiness among air traffic controllers. This research, published in Dement Neuropsychol, investigated the prevalence of excessive sleepiness (ES) in Brazilian ATCos and its potential implications.

The study evaluated 45 flight protection professionals, including 30 ATCos divided into groups based on their years of experience (over ten years and less than ten years) and 15 aeronautical information services operators (AIS) serving as a control group. Researchers used the Epworth Sleepiness Scale and the Maintenance of Wakefulness Test to assess subjective and objective sleepiness levels.

What the Study Revealed: Alarming Rates of Sleepiness

Air traffic controller silhouetted against a sky filled with clocks, symbolizing disrupted sleep.

The findings of the Brazilian study were quite striking. ATCos, regardless of their years of experience, reported significantly higher levels of subjective sleepiness compared to the control group (AIS operators). Specifically, ATCos with more than ten years of experience showed a median sleepiness score of 12 (out of 24) on the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, while those with less than ten years scored 10. In contrast, the control groups scored much lower.

Furthermore, objective measurements using the Maintenance of Wakefulness Test (MWT) revealed that a staggering 77.27% of ATCos had a sleep latency of less than 20 minutes. This means they fell asleep quickly in a controlled environment, indicating a high level of sleepiness. In comparison, only 16.67% of the AIS operators had similar sleep latencies.

Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS): A score above 9 indicates excessive sleepiness. ATCos scored significantly higher than the control group.
Maintenance of Wakefulness Test (MWT): Measures how long a person can stay awake in a quiet environment. Shorter sleep latency indicates greater sleepiness.
Key Finding: ATCos exhibited both subjective feelings of sleepiness and objective measures confirming their difficulty in staying awake.

These results highlight a significant concern: Brazilian air traffic controllers are experiencing excessive sleepiness at rates that could potentially impact their performance and, consequently, air safety. This raises critical questions about the factors contributing to this sleep deprivation and what measures can be taken to address it.

Addressing the Sleepless Skies: What Can Be Done?

The Brazilian study serves as a wake-up call, prompting the need for further research and proactive interventions. Understanding the specific factors contributing to sleep deprivation in air traffic controllers is crucial for developing effective strategies to combat this issue. Some potential solutions include optimizing work schedules, promoting sleep hygiene education, and providing access to sleep disorder treatments.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1590/s1980-57642011dn05030009, Alternate LINK

Title: Brazilian Air Traffic Controllers Exhibit Excessive Sleepiness

Subject: Cognitive Neuroscience

Journal: Dementia & Neuropsychologia

Publisher: FapUNIFESP (SciELO)

Authors: Valdenilson Ribeiro Ribas, Cláudia Ângela Vilela De Almeida, Hugo André De Lima Martins, Carlos Frederico De Oliveira Alves, Marcos José Pinheiro Cândido Alves, Severino Marcos De Oliveira Carneiro, Valéria Ribeiro Ribas, Carlos Augusto Carvalho De Vasconcelos, Everton Botelho Sougey, Raul Manhães De Castro

Published: 2011-09-01

Everything You Need To Know

What specific tools did the Brazilian study use to measure sleepiness in air traffic controllers?

The Brazilian study utilized two primary tools: the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and the Maintenance of Wakefulness Test (MWT). The ESS assessed subjective sleepiness levels, with scores above 9 indicating excessive sleepiness. The MWT provided an objective measure by evaluating how quickly participants fell asleep in a controlled environment; shorter sleep latencies on the MWT signaled greater sleepiness. Both tools helped researchers understand the extent of sleep deprivation among air traffic controllers (ATCos).

How did the sleepiness levels of air traffic controllers compare to the control group in the Brazilian study, and what were the implications?

The air traffic controllers (ATCos) in the Brazilian study showed significantly higher levels of sleepiness compared to the control group, which consisted of aeronautical information services operators (AIS). ATCos, regardless of their experience, reported higher subjective sleepiness scores on the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Objective measurements with the Maintenance of Wakefulness Test (MWT) further highlighted the issue, revealing that a significantly larger percentage of ATCos fell asleep quickly compared to the AIS operators. This disparity suggests that the demanding schedules and work environment of ATCos contribute to a higher prevalence of sleep deprivation, potentially impacting their performance and, consequently, air safety.

What are the key differences in sleepiness scores between ATCos with different years of experience, according to the study?

The Brazilian study, published in *Dement Neuropsychol*, revealed some differences in sleepiness scores among air traffic controllers (ATCos) based on their years of experience. ATCos with over ten years of experience had a median sleepiness score of 12 on the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), while those with less than ten years of experience scored 10. Both groups of ATCos showed higher sleepiness scores compared to the aeronautical information services operators (AIS) in the control group. This suggests that while experience might influence sleepiness to some degree, the profession itself is a major factor.

What does the Maintenance of Wakefulness Test (MWT) reveal about the sleep patterns of air traffic controllers in the Brazilian study?

The Maintenance of Wakefulness Test (MWT) provided objective data on the sleep patterns of air traffic controllers (ATCos). A key finding was that 77.27% of ATCos had a sleep latency of less than 20 minutes on the MWT. This indicates that a significant majority of ATCos fell asleep quickly in a controlled environment, demonstrating a high level of sleepiness. In contrast, only 16.67% of the aeronautical information services operators (AIS) in the control group had similar sleep latencies. This suggests that the demanding schedules and work environment of ATCos are significantly impacting their ability to stay awake.

Beyond the study's findings, what measures are suggested to address the issue of sleep deprivation among air traffic controllers?

The Brazilian study serves as a wake-up call, prompting the need for proactive interventions to tackle the issue of sleep deprivation among air traffic controllers (ATCos). The research highlights the need for further research into the factors contributing to sleep deprivation in ATCos. Some potential solutions include optimizing work schedules to reduce the strain on sleep patterns, promoting sleep hygiene education to help ATCos develop healthy sleep habits, and providing access to sleep disorder treatments for those who may need them. Addressing these areas can help mitigate the risks associated with excessive sleepiness and improve the safety and well-being of these critical professionals.