Narrative:

I was training on R6 position first and we were told to combine with R4 to continue training. Traffic was getting slow. So after awhile it started picking up; trainee started to fall behind and it went up to a point that I had to take him out. In the middle of this busy session; it was brought to my attention that air carrier X needed lower. From FL360 to FL340. I made several calls with no answer. I kept on working. I tried again on a different occasion. Nothing. Kept working. I think I tried him again; but can't recall. It was so busy that I believe there were more than 30 aircraft on different frequencies stepping on each other. It happens that the air carrier X was on a frequency other than mine. ZZZ1 center was advised of the situation and it was coordinated that he was going [to] be turned on a 360 degree turn back to zzzzz; and it was going [to] be descended on radar to FL340 to comply with what was coordinated. The aircraft descended to FL340 and switched. By this time I had a controller in charge; an flm and the trainee all watching over me to help. Proper training for controller in charge duties needs to be established at ZZZ center. Controller in charge could have done a better job if properly trained. Omic and flm's; if any are on the operations room; need to be more engaged in the operation. ZZZ center is under staffed; flow has to be implemented every day; specially on weekends. It does not look like anybody is taking the time to do this. If d-side requests an aside and it can't be provided; controller in charge should help until someone can be assigned. Sectors are being worked combined when they should be split mostly because of staffing and it has become the norm every day. Even when there is severe weather or heavy traffic. Staff should be scheduled to cover for this; especially on weekends. On the same note; fpl's are being used almost 24/7 for controller in charge duties. Flm's should be called in on overtime to cover so fpl's could be used on the floor to work traffic and train.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Enroute Controller described a very busy and confused traffic event that apparently resulted in a loss of separation event; three varied viewpoints were provided for this occurrence.

Narrative: I was training on R6 position first and we were told to combine with R4 to continue training. Traffic was getting slow. So after awhile it started picking up; trainee started to fall behind and it went up to a point that I had to take him out. In the middle of this busy session; it was brought to my attention that Air Carrier X needed lower. From FL360 to FL340. I made several calls with no answer. I kept on working. I tried again on a different occasion. Nothing. Kept working. I think I tried him again; but can't recall. It was so busy that I believe there were more than 30 aircraft on different frequencies stepping on each other. It happens that the Air Carrier X was on a frequency other than mine. ZZZ1 Center was advised of the situation and it was coordinated that he was going [to] be turned on a 360 degree turn back to ZZZZZ; and it was going [to] be descended on RADAR to FL340 to comply with what was coordinated. The aircraft descended to FL340 and switched. By this time I had a CIC; an FLM and the trainee all watching over me to help. Proper training for CIC duties needs to be established at ZZZ Center. CIC could have done a better job if properly trained. OMIC and FLM's; if any are on the operations room; need to be more engaged in the operation. ZZZ Center is under staffed; flow has to be implemented every day; specially on weekends. It does not look like anybody is taking the time to do this. If D-Side requests an Aside and it can't be provided; CIC should help until someone can be assigned. Sectors are being worked combined when they should be split mostly because of staffing and it has become the norm every day. Even when there is severe weather or heavy traffic. Staff should be scheduled to cover for this; especially on weekends. On the same note; FPL's are being used almost 24/7 for CIC duties. FLM's should be called in on overtime to cover so FPL's could be used on the floor to work traffic and train.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 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.