Controller reporter complains about working a non radar position because of a staffing shortage.

Attributes
ACN	142015
Time
Date	199004
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zau
State Reference	IL
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : non radar
Qualification	controller : developmental
Experience	controller non radar : 1
ASRS Report	142015
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

I am a non radar controller certified on nov xx, 1989 on my first of my now certified 4 sectors. On wed, apr xx, 1990, at approximately XA00 hours, for a period of approximately 10-15 mins, I worked the pontiac sector at ZAU non radar, while the rest of the center was in a radar environment. Under direct order from the area supervisor in charge, I was told to 'relieve (the radar controller) from his position at the sector because no one else in the area was certified at the pontiac sector and work the sector non radar without peeking at the radar.' I talked to 3 aircraft during that time: aircraft 1, initial call, a non radar crossing restriction, and a frequency change. Aircraft 2, an overflt, initial call. Aircraft 3, initial call an aircraft landing. I think the problem could have been solved by increased staffing or better scheduling at ZAU. The WX was VFR.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CTLR REPORTER COMPLAINS ABOUT WORKING A NON RADAR POSITION BECAUSE OF A STAFFING SHORTAGE.

Narrative: I AM A NON RADAR CTLR CERTIFIED ON NOV XX, 1989 ON MY FIRST OF MY NOW CERTIFIED 4 SECTORS. ON WED, APR XX, 1990, AT APPROX XA00 HRS, FOR A PERIOD OF APPROX 10-15 MINS, I WORKED THE PONTIAC SECTOR AT ZAU NON RADAR, WHILE THE REST OF THE CENTER WAS IN A RADAR ENVIRONMENT. UNDER DIRECT ORDER FROM THE AREA SUPVR IN CHARGE, I WAS TOLD TO 'RELIEVE (THE RADAR CTLR) FROM HIS POSITION AT THE SECTOR BECAUSE NO ONE ELSE IN THE AREA WAS CERTIFIED AT THE PONTIAC SECTOR AND WORK THE SECTOR NON RADAR WITHOUT PEEKING AT THE RADAR.' I TALKED TO 3 ACFT DURING THAT TIME: ACFT 1, INITIAL CALL, A NON RADAR XING RESTRICTION, AND A FREQ CHANGE. ACFT 2, AN OVERFLT, INITIAL CALL. ACFT 3, INITIAL CALL AN ACFT LNDG. I THINK THE PROBLEM COULD HAVE BEEN SOLVED BY INCREASED STAFFING OR BETTER SCHEDULING AT ZAU. THE WX WAS VFR.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.