Short staffed at LGA. ZNY still on ATC Alert.

CRJ5000 wrote:

Has it now hit LGA? FAA reasoning is "Other / Staffing"
I know ZNY was impacted a couple days ago, but this one seems confined to LGA tower.

CTL ELEMENT: LGA
ELEMENT TYPE: APT
ADL TIME: 1954Z
DELAY ASSIGNMENT MODE: UDP
ARRIVALS ESTIMATED FOR: 24/2200Z - 25/0259Z
CUMULATIVE PROGRAM PERIOD: 24/2200Z - 25/0259Z
PROGRAM RATE: 12
FLT INCL: ALL CONTIGUOUS US DEP
DEP SCOPE: 1425
CANADIAN DEP ARPTS INCLUDED: CYHZ CYOW CYUL CYYZ CYTZ CYQB
DELAY ASSIGNMENT TABLE APPLIES TO: ZNY
MAXIMUM DELAY: 261
AVERAGE DELAY: 183
IMPACTING CONDITION: OTHER / OTHER
COMMENTS: ARR 04 DEP 31

I posted a list further up thread that includes LGA, JFK, FRG, and ZNY. They've all been impacted for a few days now. Only FRG is ATC zero, while ZNY remains on alert with significant impacts. A lot of reroutes are forcing flights around ZNY airspace. LGA and JFK seem to be operating smoothly enough (given the decreased traffic counts, anyway). Only JFK has had traffic management initiatives — I haven't seen a TMI out for LGA since Friday or Saturday.

Can someone please explain what “ATC Alert” means?

Oilman wrote:

Can someone please explain what “ATC Alert” means?

Without getting too much into it, “Be ready in case of ATC zero”.

There’s a lot more to it but that should suffice.

CRJ5000 wrote:

Has it now hit LGA? FAA reasoning is "Other / Staffing"
I know ZNY was impacted a couple days ago, but this one seems confined to LGA tower.

CTL ELEMENT: LGA
ELEMENT TYPE: APT
ADL TIME: 1954Z
DELAY ASSIGNMENT MODE: UDP
ARRIVALS ESTIMATED FOR: 24/2200Z - 25/0259Z
CUMULATIVE PROGRAM PERIOD: 24/2200Z - 25/0259Z
PROGRAM RATE: 12
FLT INCL: ALL CONTIGUOUS US DEP
DEP SCOPE: 1425
CANADIAN DEP ARPTS INCLUDED: CYHZ CYOW CYUL CYYZ CYTZ CYQB
DELAY ASSIGNMENT TABLE APPLIES TO: ZNY
MAXIMUM DELAY: 261
AVERAGE DELAY: 183
IMPACTING CONDITION: OTHER / OTHER
COMMENTS: ARR 04 DEP 31

POSSIBLE STAFFING ISSUES AT LGA THIS AFTERNOON WHICH MAY REQUIRE A GROUND
DELAY PROGRAM. ZNY WILL NEED TO CLOSE SEVERAL DEPARTURE FIXES INCLUDING
WHITE, DIXIE AND DITCH AFTER 2030Z. OTHER ROUTES HAVE BEEN UPDATED.

KSNA went Zero

!FDC 0/1511 ZLA CA..AIRSPACE SANTA ANA, CA..TEMPORARY FLIGHTRESTRICTIONS WI AN AREA DEFINED AS 5 NM RADIUS OF 334032N1175205W(SEAL BEACH VORTAC SLI110011.4) SFC-2500FT SNA ATC ZERO OPS.PURSUANT TO 14 CFR SECTION 91.137(A)(3) TEMPORARY FLIGHTRESTRICTIONS ARE IN EFFECT. ONLY ACFT OPS UNDER DIRECTION OFSOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TRACON ARE AUTH IN THE AIRSPACE. SOUTHERNCALIFORNIA TRACON TELEPHONE 858-537-5895 IS IN CHARGE OF THEOPERATION. LOS ANGELES /ZLA/ ARTCC TELEPHONE 661-265-8205 ISTHE FAA CDN FACILITY. 2003271430-2003290001

Any other ATC people get new reduced schedules? ZJX starts Sunday.

Yeah, lots of places going 5 on and 5 or 10 off on fixed shifts.

krsw757 wrote:

Any other ATC people get new reduced schedules? ZJX starts Sunday.

Yeah, it sounds like everywhere switches over on Sunday. ZDC is going to 5 on 10 off. It sounds like most centers are doing that, with the exception of ZME (5 on 5 off). Switching to a crewed system probably gives us a fighting chance of staying open if someone gets a positive test.

Hey, new to the forum. ZTL controller, we’re going 5 on, 10 off starting Sunday.

Bryanwestfield wrote:

Hey, new to the forum. ZTL controller, we’re going 5 on, 10 off starting Sunday.

Welcome! It sounds like this is the norm in most centers. Some places were rumored to be looking at 5 on 15 off, but I don't think most places are staffed well enough for that. Apparently some terminals are going to 3 on 3 off. Presumably ZME is the exception with 5 on 5 off since they actually have to staff a mid.

It'll be interesting to see how long this goes on for. I had annual coming up, which would have given me 25 days off, but I turned it back in. I'm not even sure I'd remember how to get to work if I were out for that long.

atcsundevil wrote:

Bryanwestfield wrote:

Hey, new to the forum. ZTL controller, we’re going 5 on, 10 off starting Sunday.

Welcome! It sounds like this is the norm in most centers. Some places were rumored to be looking at 5 on 15 off, but I don't think most places are staffed well enough for that. Apparently some terminals are going to 3 on 3 off. Presumably ZME is the exception with 5 on 5 off since they actually have to staff a mid.

It'll be interesting to see how long this goes on for. I had annual coming up, which would have given me 25 days off, but I turned it back in. I'm not even sure I'd remember how to get to work if I were out for that long.

A80 5 on 10 off. I started with 10 off first day back tomorrow. This is surreal and boring. I have annual in May that will make 25 straight off. Can’t imagine another day off let alone 15

bravoindia wrote:

A80 5 on 10 off. I started with 10 off first day back tomorrow. This is surreal and boring. I have annual in May that will make 25 straight off. Can’t imagine another day off let alone 15

My first day back is today after 10 off. I've never been more bored in my life.

I think the new scheduling is working out well though. At least it limits exposure among crews. In the last week of normal scheduling, I think I had a total of about three hours on position in five days, including an OT shift. It was totally pointless, so I'm glad they went to reduced staffing relatively quickly (at least by agency standards).

It sounds like all but two centers are 5/10 (ZME and ZAN are 5/5), but there are a ton of terminals on 5/5 because of staffing. Here are the few I've seen that are on 5/5: BGM, EMT, FAR, FXE, RDG, HEF, HTF, JCS, FAI, OGG, FFZ, ENO, ANC, HLN, CNO, MMU, MKE, ROW, CPR, FWA, LVK, OKC, DVT, Y90, BDL, ABI, HIO, ORL, CRP, SDF, ILM, MEM. I'm sure there are others, but that's what I've seen so far. FAY is still on normal RDOs UFN

Yes. PIT and CLE 5/10 I believe and MDT is 5/5

Today first day back. Couple of pushes to keep you on your toes but other than that very eerie compared to normal. Parts of the Tracon shut down in case of infection then we have a place to work. Crazy times. Can’t wait for next summer and beyond. Bring back the jets !!!

I wonder if I am right - but I see the change in approach patterns at our local airport. It is not a major one, but having 3-4 planes (737 or RJ) landing or taking off one after another was a common sight.
Long story short - I am some 15 miles from threshold, and can see the approach to RWY 19 flying overhead. Most of our traffic comes from south or west, so there is a fly-around to come onto 19. And usually, planes fly more or less 190 overhead - making turns further away from the runway.
Lately, the few planes I see are making a turn between me and runway, much closer to the airport than previously. I wonder what that means in terms of ATC procedures..

kalvado wrote:

I wonder if I am right - but I see the change in approach patterns at our local airport. It is not a major one, but having 3-4 planes (737 or RJ) landing or taking off one after another was a common sight.
Long story short - I am some 15 miles from threshold, and can see the approach to RWY 19 flying overhead. Most of our traffic comes from south or west, so there is a fly-around to come onto 19. And usually, planes fly more or less 190 overhead - making turns further away from the runway.
Lately, the few planes I see are making a turn between me and runway, much closer to the airport than previously. I wonder what that means in terms of ATC procedures..

It generally means everybody is getting pretty sweet shortcuts. Most places are operating in a "midnight" configuration, so a lot of the operational norms work differently. More shortcuts, planes can be left at altitude for longer, speed restrictions can be deleted, etc. In this case, it's probably because there aren't other flows in the pattern they usually need to work around, so they can get aircraft on their way sooner than usual.

bravoindia wrote:

atcsundevil wrote:

Bryanwestfield wrote:

Hey, new to the forum. ZTL controller, we’re going 5 on, 10 off starting Sunday.

Welcome! It sounds like this is the norm in most centers. Some places were rumored to be looking at 5 on 15 off, but I don't think most places are staffed well enough for that. Apparently some terminals are going to 3 on 3 off. Presumably ZME is the exception with 5 on 5 off since they actually have to staff a mid.

It'll be interesting to see how long this goes on for. I had annual coming up, which would have given me 25 days off, but I turned it back in. I'm not even sure I'd remember how to get to work if I were out for that long.

A80 5 on 10 off. I started with 10 off first day back tomorrow. This is surreal and boring. I have annual in May that will make 25 straight off. Can’t imagine another day off let alone 15

You should turn that in and bank it.

Listening in to Washington Tower (DCA) around noon as weather rolled through. Once that excitement ended and a Southwest flight landed on its 3rd attempt, I noticed that the tower was also doing ground control as well, clearing for push back, taxiing arriving and departing aircraft, etc. Is this the case at other airports as well? I imagine the low level of traffic enables this set up to reduce the staffing need and keep people safe. Or all the ground controllers got sick? I hope the former.

capitalflyer wrote:

Listening in to Washington Tower (DCA) around noon as weather rolled through. Once that excitement ended and a Southwest flight landed on its 3rd attempt, I noticed that the tower was also doing ground control as well, clearing for push back, taxiing arriving and departing aircraft, etc. Is this the case at other airports as well? I imagine the low level of traffic enables this set up to reduce the staffing need and keep people safe. Or all the ground controllers got sick? I hope the former.

Don't let those FlightRadar24 maps fool you. There's a whole bunch of nothing going on and unless you have a trainee, ground controllers are controllers...they're just working it at that moment in time.

capitalflyer wrote:

Listening in to Washington Tower (DCA) around noon as weather rolled through. Once that excitement ended and a Southwest flight landed on its 3rd attempt, I noticed that the tower was also doing ground control as well, clearing for push back, taxiing arriving and departing aircraft, etc. Is this the case at other airports as well? I imagine the low level of traffic enables this set up to reduce the staffing need and keep people safe. Or all the ground controllers got sick? I hope the former.

DCA has a ground controller that handles taxi and pushes clearances.

Most major airports will have ramp controllers that hired back the airlines to handle ramp movements. Most smaller outstations aircraft are allowed to push as the pilots discretion or have to request to push from the ground controller (this is specified in company procedures).

bigb wrote:

capitalflyer wrote:

Listening in to Washington Tower (DCA) around noon as weather rolled through. Once that excitement ended and a Southwest flight landed on its 3rd attempt, I noticed that the tower was also doing ground control as well, clearing for push back, taxiing arriving and departing aircraft, etc. Is this the case at other airports as well? I imagine the low level of traffic enables this set up to reduce the staffing need and keep people safe. Or all the ground controllers got sick? I hope the former.

DCA has a ground controller that handles taxi and pushes clearances.

Most major airports will have ramp controllers that hired back the airlines to handle ramp movements. Most smaller outstations aircraft are allowed to push as the pilots discretion or have to request to push from the ground controller (this is specified in company procedures).

I am again listening today and the same person is giving landing and take off clearances, pushback clearances, and taxi instructions. As an aircraft slows, the controller has repeatedly said "taxi to parking and stay with me".

To me, this means that they have one controller handling all aircraft movements. Maybe not routing clearances, etc. but any time an aircraft moves on the ground or in the air around DCA it is one person doing the talking.

geologyrocks wrote:

capitalflyer wrote:

Listening in to Washington Tower (DCA) around noon as weather rolled through. Once that excitement ended and a Southwest flight landed on its 3rd attempt, I noticed that the tower was also doing ground control as well, clearing for push back, taxiing arriving and departing aircraft, etc. Is this the case at other airports as well? I imagine the low level of traffic enables this set up to reduce the staffing need and keep people safe. Or all the ground controllers got sick? I hope the former.

Don't let those FlightRadar24 maps fool you. There's a whole bunch of nothing going on and unless you have a trainee, ground controllers are controllers...they're just working it at that moment in time.

FR24 has nothing to do with ATC. I heard the WN flight call the go around. And it wasn't a bathroom break. One person handling it all for the couple hours I had it on.

capitalflyer wrote:

bigb wrote:

capitalflyer wrote:

Listening in to Washington Tower (DCA) around noon as weather rolled through. Once that excitement ended and a Southwest flight landed on its 3rd attempt, I noticed that the tower was also doing ground control as well, clearing for push back, taxiing arriving and departing aircraft, etc. Is this the case at other airports as well? I imagine the low level of traffic enables this set up to reduce the staffing need and keep people safe. Or all the ground controllers got sick? I hope the former.

DCA has a ground controller that handles taxi and pushes clearances.

Most major airports will have ramp controllers that hired back the airlines to handle ramp movements. Most smaller outstations aircraft are allowed to push as the pilots discretion or have to request to push from the ground controller (this is specified in company procedures).

I am again listening today and the same person is giving landing and take off clearances, pushback clearances, and taxi instructions. As an aircraft slows, the controller has repeatedly said "taxi to parking and stay with me".

To me, this means that they have one controller handling all aircraft movements. Maybe not routing clearances, etc. but any time an aircraft moves on the ground or in the air around DCA it is one person doing the talking.

Like I said a few posts up, most facilities are running in a midnight configuration right now. I'm not a tower guy, but my understanding is that most towers operate with one controller in the cab on the mids. You probably aren't hearing many IFR clearances because pretty much anything departing DCA would use TDLS (datacomm). In the center environment, we're running on mid configs 95% of the time this week at least. That means there's one controller for each area (six areas in my building).

I work in a tower. We normally run 8-9 positions during a normal day. We are doing three now. Clearance and flight data are combined with ground. We have a local (tower) controller for each side of the airport and that’s it. And to clarify, when you here a “ground” controller, he is still in the tower working right next to the “tower” controller. He is very much a controller and a lot of the busiest places, the ground position is the most complex and busiest. At my place it is the last position you get certified on. However, there is a difference between the ground controller and the ramp control. At most places, the ramp controllers aren’t controllers and are employed by the airport and not FAA controllers. They have no FAA certificates.

ZDC is the next facility impacted by coronavirus. The facility will be going ATC zero from 0200Z-0800Z for cleaning per FAA OIS Ops Plan. No word on further impacts. It is not a controller that tested positive.

https://www.fly.faa.gov/adv/adv_spt.jsp

ZDC didn't get the word coronavirus is over? We're opening up the country; it's as reliable as your WX briefing.

capitalflyer wrote:

bigb wrote:

capitalflyer wrote:

Listening in to Washington Tower (DCA) around noon as weather rolled through. Once that excitement ended and a Southwest flight landed on its 3rd attempt, I noticed that the tower was also doing ground control as well, clearing for push back, taxiing arriving and departing aircraft, etc. Is this the case at other airports as well? I imagine the low level of traffic enables this set up to reduce the staffing need and keep people safe. Or all the ground controllers got sick? I hope the former.

DCA has a ground controller that handles taxi and pushes clearances.

Most major airports will have ramp controllers that hired back the airlines to handle ramp movements. Most smaller outstations aircraft are allowed to push as the pilots discretion or have to request to push from the ground controller (this is specified in company procedures).

I am again listening today and the same person is giving landing and take off clearances, pushback clearances, and taxi instructions. As an aircraft slows, the controller has repeatedly said "taxi to parking and stay with me".

To me, this means that they have one controller handling all aircraft movements. Maybe not routing clearances, etc. but any time an aircraft moves on the ground or in the air around DCA it is one person doing the talking.

Pretty sure I heard a controller at SFO today give an aircraft clearance "UA XXX, San Francisco Ground, runway 1R, taxi via A, A1, cleared for takeoff, monitor tower 120.5" all in one transmission which was insane to me.

HVN2HEL2LAX wrote:

ZDC didn't get the word coronavirus is over? We're opening up the country; it's as reliable as your WX briefing.

I mean, we all got the message, but I guess the janitorial staff didn't. Apparently they forgot to check their CEDAR.

atcsundevil wrote:

HVN2HEL2LAX wrote:

ZDC didn't get the word coronavirus is over? We're opening up the country; it's as reliable as your WX briefing.

I mean, we all got the message, but I guess the janitorial staff didn't. Apparently they forgot to check their CEDAR.

Give'm a PRoC.

Per advisory, services by ZLA will be interrupted tonight.

LAX ATC has informed that a Covid outbreak in the Los Angeles Air Traffic Control Center (ZLA) will result in a ground stop to all airports being served by ZLA. This interruption in service will commence at 2330hrs local and will last until 0300hrs local.

ZFW and ZJX last week.

LAXintl wrote:

Per advisory, services by ZLA will be interrupted tonight.

LAX ATC has informed that a Covid outbreak in the Los Angeles Air Traffic Control Center (ZLA) will result in a ground stop to all airports being served by ZLA. This interruption in service will commence at 2330hrs local and will last until 0300hrs local.

Second time this week at ZLA. ZJX went ATC zero twice this past week as well, ZMA went down once with no notice, and ZFW went down once as well. These CDC level 3 cleanings are seriously expensive too. I fully expect the instances of overnight ATC zero events at ARTCCs to increase, particularly in centers located in heavily affected states. Of course they'll increase in TRACONs and ATCTs too, but the impact isn't as noticeable because the airspace can revert to uncontrolled. I've been told that most facilities have transitioned from 5 on/10 off to either 5 on/5 off or back to normal schedules, which doesn't help matters when staffing levels are increased. Increases in traffic counts also mean that more sectors are needing to be staffed (particularly when airlines are running heavy banks now, just fewer banks than usual), making social distancing more difficult. It seems that the risk of exposure to controllers will be increasing throughout the summer.

atcsundevil wrote:

LAXintl wrote:

Per advisory, services by ZLA will be interrupted tonight.

LAX ATC has informed that a Covid outbreak in the Los Angeles Air Traffic Control Center (ZLA) will result in a ground stop to all airports being served by ZLA. This interruption in service will commence at 2330hrs local and will last until 0300hrs local.

Second time this week at ZLA. ZJX went ATC zero twice this past week as well, ZMA went down once with no notice, and ZFW went down once as well. These CDC level 3 cleanings are seriously expensive too. I fully expect the instances of overnight ATC zero events at ARTCCs to increase, particularly in centers located in heavily affected states. Of course they'll increase in TRACONs and ATCTs too, but the impact isn't as noticeable because the airspace can revert to uncontrolled. I've been told that most facilities have transitioned from 5 on/10 off to either 5 on/5 off or back to normal schedules, which doesn't help matters when staffing levels are increased. Increases in traffic counts also mean that more sectors are needing to be staffed (particularly when airlines are running heavy banks now, just fewer banks than usual), making social distancing more difficult. It seems that the risk of exposure to controllers will be increasing throughout the summer.

The science says that surface spread is very rare. We just need to get tu sick people out. You don’t need to clean up Chernobyl.

Just curious from anyone that’s been at a facility that has a positive test; are they making that entire team/crew quarantine for 14 days or just the individual?

GoSteelers wrote:

Just curious from anyone that’s been at a facility that has a positive test; are they making that entire team/crew quarantine for 14 days or just the individual?

The individual. Anyone who had close contact with the individual for a prolonged period (>10 minutes) fills out a questionnaire which is submitted to the regional flight surgeon, but the problem is that they don't release the name of the individual for privacy reasons. It kinda leaves everyone to play a guessing game.

32andBelow wrote:

The science says that surface spread is very rare. We just need to get tu sick people out. You don’t need to clean up Chernobyl.

I don't think I implied that surface exposure was the risk here, it's the inability to social distance. There are more sectors open now, they're bringing developmentals back so they don't lose currency, and staffing on shifts is increasing. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that more bodies in the building increases the risk of exposure to someone who might be sick. When people are asymptomatic or presymptomatic, they don't know not to come to work — risk of asymptomatic spread is low, but people who are presymptomatic are contagious.

Honestly I don’t even know why they bother the cleaning. Watching first hand at my facility, it’s a joke and like you said expensive. It’s gone from “being safe” to doing as little as possible as to not disrupt the system. We’ve had 3 confirmed from 3 different crews.

krsw757 wrote:

Honestly I don’t even know why they bother the cleaning. Watching first hand at my facility, it’s a joke and like you said expensive. It’s gone from “being safe” to doing as little as possible as to not disrupt the system. We’ve had 3 confirmed from 3 different crews.

Yeah that’s what I was afraid of. I thought the original point of splitting into non-overlapping crews was to limit the exposure and make it easy to separate people in the event of a positive test. So it sounds like that’s not the case. What a joke.

LAXintl wrote:

Per advisory, services by ZLA will be interrupted tonight.

LAX ATC has informed that a Covid outbreak in the Los Angeles Air Traffic Control Center (ZLA) will result in a ground stop to all airports being served by ZLA. This interruption in service will commence at 2330hrs local and will last until 0300hrs local.

Is the interruption happening on June 29 at 2330hours local or has it already happened on June 28 at 2330 hours local?

Appears ZFW is also going ATC Zero tonight, between 0515z-0830z. ZFW departures stopped starting 0445z.

All flights must be rerouted around.

ATCSCC ADVZY 001 DCC 06/30/2020 FCA RQD

NAME: FCAZFW:ZFW_ATC_ZERO

CONSTRAINED AREA: ZFW

VALID: FCA ENTRY TIME FROM 300515 TO 300830

GoSteelers wrote:

krsw757 wrote:

Honestly I don’t even know why they bother the cleaning. Watching first hand at my facility, it’s a joke and like you said expensive. It’s gone from “being safe” to doing as little as possible as to not disrupt the system. We’ve had 3 confirmed from 3 different crews.

Yeah that’s what I was afraid of. I thought the original point of splitting into non-overlapping crews was to limit the exposure and make it easy to separate people in the event of a positive test. So it sounds like that’s not the case. What a joke.

And with a lot of facilities coming off COVID schedules despite the soaring number of cases, we're literally going back to square one. Presumably most facilities will shift back to COVID schedules come September when traffic numbers will likely drop off, but that won't really help in the mean time.

atcsundevil wrote:

GoSteelers wrote:

krsw757 wrote:

Honestly I don’t even know why they bother the cleaning. Watching first hand at my facility, it’s a joke and like you said expensive. It’s gone from “being safe” to doing as little as possible as to not disrupt the system. We’ve had 3 confirmed from 3 different crews.

Yeah that’s what I was afraid of. I thought the original point of splitting into non-overlapping crews was to limit the exposure and make it easy to separate people in the event of a positive test. So it sounds like that’s not the case. What a joke.

And with a lot of facilities coming off COVID schedules despite the soaring number of cases, we're literally going back to square one. Presumably most facilities will shift back to COVID schedules come September when traffic numbers will likely drop off, but that won't really help in the mean time.

Traffic isn’t going to drop off the schedules are less than half of normal right now.

32andBelow wrote:

atcsundevil wrote:

GoSteelers wrote:

Yeah that’s what I was afraid of. I thought the original point of splitting into non-overlapping crews was to limit the exposure and make it easy to separate people in the event of a positive test. So it sounds like that’s not the case. What a joke.

And with a lot of facilities coming off COVID schedules despite the soaring number of cases, we're literally going back to square one. Presumably most facilities will shift back to COVID schedules come September when traffic numbers will likely drop off, but that won't really help in the mean time.

Traffic isn’t going to drop off the schedules are less than half of normal right now.

My understanding was that most of the traffic increases have gone to infrequent travelers. Those increases probably aren't sustainable after Labor Day. I think there will also be an appreciable drop-off after CARES funding expires on Sept. 30 if it's not extended.

ZDC to go ATC zero tonight for COVID cleaning per FAA OIS.

https://www.fly.faa.gov/adv/adv_spt.jsp

atcsundevil wrote:

ZDC to go ATC zero tonight for COVID cleaning per FAA OIS.

https://www.fly.faa.gov/adv/adv_spt.jsp

Looks like ZHU also.

ATCJesus wrote:

atcsundevil wrote:

ZDC to go ATC zero tonight for COVID cleaning per FAA OIS.

https://www.fly.faa.gov/adv/adv_spt.jsp

Looks like ZHU also.

It was ATC zero earlier for "equipment issues" per the OIS, but now it appears that it could be for COVID cleaning. They were showing ATC zero for much of the afternoon and evening. It looked like maybe only a few areas went down when I checked earlier.

Due COVID exposure, SNA tower will operate with reduced staffing leading to shorter operating hours and reduced hourly arrival rate for next 5-days through Sunday.

https://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2020/11 ... acity/amp/

LAXintl wrote:

Due COVID exposure, SNA tower will operate with reduced staffing leading to shorter operating hours and reduced hourly arrival rate for next 5-days through Sunday.

https://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2020/11 ... acity/amp/

I think these events are likely to increase in the coming months. Nearly all facilities are either back on normal bargained work schedules or split crews working 5 on/5 off, but with more bodies in buildings and less segregation of crews to limit potential exposure, it's asking for problems, in my opinion. We're now bringing back all rated developmentals (except A sides) who have been on EA since March, which will likely increase exposures.

Pueblo is literally closed for a couple weeks because they have no controllers.