JO 7210.966 · Basic Watch Schedules

FAA

Open the PDFPublic domain · FAAOrders & Notices

Overview

The Basic Watch Schedules (JO 7210.966) is a public-domain FAA order, republished here as a free chaptered HTML edition with a linked table of contents and the official PDF.

Pages: 2

Key points

The requirement for a 12-hour off duty period prior to a midnight shift has been suspended for the 2026 Basic Watch Schedule.
Air Traffic Control Specialists must have an off-duty period of at least 12 hours following a midnight shift.
A midnight shift is defined as a shift in which the majority of hours are worked between 10:30 P.M. and 6:30 A.M.
This General Notice (GENOT) cancels on December 31, 2026.
Questions regarding this notice can be directed to Crystal Ball at the provided email.

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Frequently asked questions

What changes are made to the off-duty period for the 2026 Basic Watch Schedule?

The requirement for a 12-hour off duty period prior to a midnight shift has been suspended for the period covered by the 2026 Basic Watch Schedule.

What is considered a midnight shift?

A midnight shift is defined as a shift in which the majority of hours are worked between 10:30 P.M. and 6:30 A.M.

When does this General Notice cancel?

This General Notice (GENOT) cancels on December 31, 2026.

Who can I contact for questions regarding this document?

Questions can be directed to Crystal Ball at crystal.l.ball@faa.gov.

Are there any other changes to the Basic Watch Schedules?

No further changes to the specified paragraphs in FAA JO 7210.3EE were made, apart from the suspension of the 12-hour off duty requirement.

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Document

TELEGRAPHIC MESSAGE PRECEDENCE: SECURITY CLASSIFICATION Federal Aviation Administration IMMEDIATE 800 Independence Avenue, SW

Unclassified

ACTION: W a s h i n g t o n , D C 2 0 5 9 1 PRIORITY FILE: ACCOUNTING CLASSIFICATION DATE PREPARED: 08/06/2025 FOR INFORMATION CALL NAME PHONE NUMBER TYPE OF MESSAGE CRYSTAL L BALL (202) 267-2715 _ SINGLE _ BOOK _ X _ MULTI ADDRESS MESSAGE TO BE TRANSMITTED (Use double spacing and all capital letters) To: KRWA NOUS2 25/28 GENOT RWA 061830Z N JO 7210.966 GG ALRGNS 1/500/530 AMC-1 AMA-500 ACT-1 ALATFO XVM EFFECTIVE: 01/01/2026 SUBJECT: BASIC WATCH SCHEDULES THE REQUIREMENT FOR A 12-HOUR OFF DUTY PERIOD PRIOR TO A MIDNIGHT SHIFT HAS BEEN SUSPENDED FOR THE PERIOD COVERED BY THE 2026 BASIC WATCH SCHEDULE (BWS).

THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPHS IN FAA JO 7210.3EE ARE TEMPORARILY AMENDED AS FOLLOWS: 2-5-1. BASIC WATCH SCHEDULES TITLE THROUGH SUBPARAGRAPH b, NO CHANGE c. FACILITY AIR TRAFFIC MANAGERS MUST ENSURE THAT AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL SPECIALISTS (ATCS) ASSIGNED TO A POSITION OF OPERATION: SUBPARAGRAPH c1 THROUGH c3, NO CHANGE 4. HAVE AN OFF DUTY PERIOD OF AT LEAST 12 HOURS FOLLOWING THE MIDNIGHT SHIFT.

NO FURTHER CHANGES TO PARAGRAPH 2-6-7. BASIC WATCH SCHEDULE TITLE THROUGH SUBPARAGRAPH a, NO CHANGE P A G E NO. NO. OF PGS Security Classification

Unclassified

1 2 b . AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL SPECIALISTS WHOSE PRIMARY DUTIES ARE THOSE DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE CONTROL AND SEPARATION OF AIRCRAFT MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA: SUBPARAGRAPH b1 THROUGH b4, NO CHANGE 5. HAVE AN OFF-DUTY PERIOD OF AT LEAST 12 HOURS FOLLOWING A MIDNIGHT SHIFT. (A MIDNIGHT SHIFT IS DEFINED AS A SHIFT IN WHICH THE MAJORITY OF HOURS ARE WORKED BETWEEN 10:30 P.M. AND 6:30 A.M.)

NO FURTHER CHANGES TO PARAGRAPH.

THIS GENOT CANCELS ON DECEMBER 31, 2026.

PLEASE DIRECT ANY QUESTIONS TO CRYSTAL BALL AT CRYSTAL.L.BALL@FAA.GOV.

Digita ll y signed by JON M M STOW E Dat e: 2025.08 .06 STOWE 11:39:47 -04 '00' JON M. STOWE ACTING DIRECTOR, POLICY, AJV-P MISSION SUPPORT SERVICES P A G E NO. NO. OF PGS Security Classification

Unclassified

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