Narrative:

At A80 I was working the south and east departures off of runway 27R. Air carrier X departed and I issued the departure instructions direct futbl; resume the DAWGS4 departure (SID). The pilot read back direct dawgs. I missed this readback; however 10 seconds later the pilot questioned it as verify direct dawgs. I told him negative direct futbl resume the DAWGS4 departure. I then observed the aircraft had started a right turn toward dawgs into the path of the departures off of runway 26L. I notified the other north departure controller and he stopped the runway 26L departures at 6000 ft. Air carrier X was climbing to 10000 ft per the SID; and started a left turn to the south. No separation was lost with any aircraft. While this was a readback error; I believe the reason was controller fatigue. The controller workforce at A80 have been working 6 day weeks since the beginning of summer. I know I am tired; and have been forced to work over-time. I have even had to work 10 hour days 6 days a week. The FAA implemented their imposed work rules (contract) on natca in september on 2006. I refer to article 25 (sick leave) section 3. The 1ST sentence states 'sick leave cannot be granted for rest or minor inconveniences.' it is nearly impossible to get annual leave unless this was prime time leave you had selected in the fall of 2006 when we were bidding on the 2007 leave yr. I am tired and this alarmed me as to how exhausted I really am. We (the controller workforce) are restr to 20 min breaks and if you are late for any reason; upon returning the operations manager will berate you and threaten you with disciplinary action. I am eligible to retire in a few yrs. I hope I can make it without a catastrophic incident/accident due to controller fatigue.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A80 CTLR FAILED TO NOTE INCORRECT READBACK RESULTING IN NEAR LOSS OF SEPARATION; CITING FATIGUE AS PRIMARY CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.

Narrative: AT A80 I WAS WORKING THE S AND E DEPS OFF OF RWY 27R. ACR X DEPARTED AND I ISSUED THE DEP INSTRUCTIONS DIRECT FUTBL; RESUME THE DAWGS4 DEP (SID). THE PLT READ BACK DIRECT DAWGS. I MISSED THIS READBACK; HOWEVER 10 SECONDS LATER THE PLT QUESTIONED IT AS VERIFY DIRECT DAWGS. I TOLD HIM NEGATIVE DIRECT FUTBL RESUME THE DAWGS4 DEP. I THEN OBSERVED THE ACFT HAD STARTED A R TURN TOWARD DAWGS INTO THE PATH OF THE DEPS OFF OF RWY 26L. I NOTIFIED THE OTHER N DEP CTLR AND HE STOPPED THE RWY 26L DEPS AT 6000 FT. ACR X WAS CLBING TO 10000 FT PER THE SID; AND STARTED A L TURN TO THE S. NO SEPARATION WAS LOST WITH ANY ACFT. WHILE THIS WAS A READBACK ERROR; I BELIEVE THE REASON WAS CTLR FATIGUE. THE CTLR WORKFORCE AT A80 HAVE BEEN WORKING 6 DAY WKS SINCE THE BEGINNING OF SUMMER. I KNOW I AM TIRED; AND HAVE BEEN FORCED TO WORK OVER-TIME. I HAVE EVEN HAD TO WORK 10 HR DAYS 6 DAYS A WK. THE FAA IMPLEMENTED THEIR IMPOSED WORK RULES (CONTRACT) ON NATCA IN SEPTEMBER ON 2006. I REFER TO ARTICLE 25 (SICK LEAVE) SECTION 3. THE 1ST SENTENCE STATES 'SICK LEAVE CANNOT BE GRANTED FOR REST OR MINOR INCONVENIENCES.' IT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO GET ANNUAL LEAVE UNLESS THIS WAS PRIME TIME LEAVE YOU HAD SELECTED IN THE FALL OF 2006 WHEN WE WERE BIDDING ON THE 2007 LEAVE YR. I AM TIRED AND THIS ALARMED ME AS TO HOW EXHAUSTED I REALLY AM. WE (THE CTLR WORKFORCE) ARE RESTR TO 20 MIN BREAKS AND IF YOU ARE LATE FOR ANY REASON; UPON RETURNING THE OPS MGR WILL BERATE YOU AND THREATEN YOU WITH DISCIPLINARY ACTION. I AM ELIGIBLE TO RETIRE IN A FEW YRS. I HOPE I CAN MAKE IT WITHOUT A CATASTROPHIC INCIDENT/ACCIDENT DUE TO CTLR FATIGUE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.