Basic Watch Schedules

JO 7210.966 · FAA

Public 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.

Publisher: FAA
Document: JO 7210.966
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.

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.

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