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Roster policy comparison

Put your policy in perspective.

Compare eight rostering-policy values with averages reported in EASA’s survey of European providers. These benchmarks provide context for a policy review; they do not establish legal limits or certify compliance.

Self-check · ATS.OR.320

Check your own rostering limits against ATS.OR.320

Fill in what your own rostering system specifies for each of the eight ATS.OR.320(a) elements. There is no EU number to fail here, the article leaves all eight to you, but you can see exactly where your unit sits next to what 36 other European ANSPs told EASA they run themselves.

Published source

ATS.OR.320(a) requires your ANSP to define all eight figures below itself, the article sets no Europe-wide number for any of them. UK CAA (Safety and Airspace Regulation Group), CAA Policy on Air Traffic Controllers’ Rostering System(s), §2.3, Policy Statement, 2 September 2021 confirms it directly: “selection and regular revision of the structure of the rostering system, and of the values (or limitations) used therein, should be based on scientific principles, data gathered by the ATC service provider and best practices.” The benchmark below uses the values reported by 36 of the 46 EASA Member State ATSPs surveyed in 2023.

The eight ATS.OR.320(a) elements against the average each surveyed ATSP reported for 2023. These are surveyed averages, not regulatory limits or a safety determination.
ElementArea Control (ACC) averageAerodrome (TWR) average
1Maximum consecutive working days with duty“maximum consecutive working days with duty”, ATS.OR.320(a)(1)5.9 days ± 1.45.8 days ± 1.7
2Maximum hours per duty period“maximum hours per duty period”, ATS.OR.320(a)(2)9.2 hours ± 3.010.5 hours ± 2.7
3Maximum time providing ATC service without breaks“maximum time providing air traffic control service without breaks”, ATS.OR.320(a)(3)90 minutes ± 38154 minutes ± 89
4Ratio of duty periods to breaks“the ratio of duty periods to breaks when providing air traffic control service”, ATS.OR.320(a)(4)Duty time as a share of total working time. 0.69 reads as roughly two hours on position for every hour of break.0.69 ratio ± 0.100.72 ratio ± 0.10
5Minimum rest periods“minimum rest periods”, ATS.OR.320(a)(5)11.6 hours ± 5.312.0 hours ± 5.1
6Maximum consecutive duty periods encroaching the night time“maximum consecutive duty periods encroaching the night time, if applicable, depending upon the operating hours of the air traffic control unit concerned”, ATS.OR.320(a)(6)Night time, for this element, runs midnight to 05:59 (AMC1 ATS.OR.320(a)(6);(7)).2.3 duty periods ± 1.02.9 duty periods ± 1.2
7Minimum rest period after a duty period encroaching the night time“minimum rest period after a duty period encroaching the night time”, ATS.OR.320(a)(7)Night time, for this element, runs midnight to 05:59 (AMC1 ATS.OR.320(a)(6);(7)).22.5 hours ± 19.517.8 hours ± 15.5
8Minimum number of rest periods within a roster cycle“minimum number of rest periods within a roster cycle”, ATS.OR.320(a)(8)3.7 rest periods ± 2.03.7 rest periods ± 4.5

EASA, Study on the Analysis, Prevention and Management of Air Traffic Controller Fatigue, Table 2-1, p.25, final report, May 2024, 36 of 46 EASA-Member-State ATSPs surveyed

Run it against your own unit

Elements 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 are ceilings, lower values allow less scheduled duty. Elements 5, 7 and 8 are floors, higher values allow more recovery. Leave anything you don't have blank.

Facility type
days

hours

minutes

ratio

Duty time as a share of total working time. 0.69 reads as roughly two hours on position for every hour of break.

hours

duty periods

Night time, for this element, runs midnight to 05:59 (AMC1 ATS.OR.320(a)(6);(7)).

hours

Night time, for this element, runs midnight to 05:59 (AMC1 ATS.OR.320(a)(6);(7)).

rest periods

Enter at least one value above to compare it.

Sources

  • ATS.OR.320(a), Regulation (EU) 2017/373, Annex IV (Part-ATS), the eight elements and their exact wording, quoted above.
  • EASA, Study on the Analysis, Prevention and Management of Air Traffic Controller Fatigue, Table 2-1, p.25, final report, May 2024, 36 of 46 EASA-Member-State ATSPs surveyed · the observed averages and standard deviations.
  • AMC1 ATS.OR.320(a)(6);(7), “Night time should be considered as the time between midnight and 05.59.”
  • UK CAA (Safety and Airspace Regulation Group), CAA Policy on Air Traffic Controllers’ Rostering System(s), §2.3, Policy Statement, 2 September 2021 · confirms ATS.OR.320 leaves the numeric values to the ANSP, not the regulator.

Review the differences with your team.

If your values are near the average

Similarity to surveyed providers is context, not a compliance result. Check your approved policy, scientific basis and applicable agreements, then test actual rosters against them.

If your values differ

A difference can reflect your operation, agreements or risk assessment. Investigate the reason with your safety and staff representatives; the tool does not determine safety.

If a value surprises you

Check the source value, your approved policy and applicable working-time agreements. Review differences with the people responsible for safety, operations and staff representation.