A controller working three sectors combined had less than required separation between two aircraft d...

Attributes
ACN	1339007
Time
Date	201602
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	ZDC.ARTCC
State Reference	VA
Environment
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Medium Transport Low Wing 2 Turbojet Eng
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Cruise
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Cruise
Route In Use	Other Weather Deviation
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Enroute
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Experience	Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 14.5
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Conflict Airborne Conflict Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence

Narrative:

Working three combined sectors. Weather on west and east side of the sector with multiple departure traffic deviating into sector. Sectors handling metropolitan area traffic were in holding and deviating into the airspace. Other sectors very busy also coordinating point outs; departures; arrival traffic all deviating for squall line running throughout the sector. I was extremely and excessively busy; using multiple frequencies; aircraft were blocking transmissions and read backs. The landline and override calls were too much workload to manage and continue to perceive; assess; and plan control actions. I asked for a radar assist side than in an attempt to regain control of the sector. This assistance came after separation loss with aircraft X and aircraft Y.sectors should not be combined when such workloads and weather conditions exist; traffic safety was significantly compromised. Controllers coming on shift should get weather and game plan briefings. Staffing levels should exceed the potential traffic problems verses the way; the FAA normally staffs sectors and commits controllers to working beyond human ability that would ensure safer conditions for the users of the north.a.south. (National airspace system).

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A Controller working three sectors combined had less than required separation between two aircraft during a period of weather deviations and higher than normal workload.

Narrative: Working three combined sectors. Weather on west and east side of the sector with multiple departure traffic deviating into sector. Sectors handling metropolitan area traffic were in holding and deviating into the airspace. Other sectors very busy also coordinating point outs; departures; arrival traffic all deviating for squall line running throughout the sector. I was extremely and excessively busy; using multiple frequencies; aircraft were blocking transmissions and read backs. The landline and override calls were too much workload to manage and continue to perceive; assess; and plan control actions. I asked for a Radar Assist Side than in an attempt to regain control of the sector. This assistance came after separation loss with Aircraft X and Aircraft Y.Sectors should not be combined when such workloads and weather conditions exist; traffic safety was significantly compromised. Controllers coming on shift should get weather and game plan briefings. Staffing levels should exceed the potential traffic problems verses the way; the FAA normally staffs sectors and commits controllers to working beyond human ability that would ensure safer conditions for the users of the N.A.S. (National Airspace System).

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.

A controller working three sectors combined had less than required separation between two aircraft during a period of weather deviations and higher than normal workload.