Controller complains about expanding positions without adequate frequency to handle traffic.

Attributes
ACN	144285
Time
Date	199005
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : bdl
State Reference	CT
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zoa
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
ASRS Report	144285
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : unspecified other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
ATC Facility	other physical facility

Narrative:

I work at bdl (Y90) approach control. We are a level 4 approach. Last yr we reconfigured our airspace for a 5 sector operation. We have since that time still operated on a 4 scope operation due to lack of staffing. The controllers at our facility have tried unsuccessfully to return to the airspace and procedures for a 4 scope operation. Now we have lost a frequency, 123.85. Now we don't have a frequency for the fifth sector which is scheduled to open and be staffed on 5/sun/90. Even if we get a frequency for the fifth sector, we don't even have a backup frequency. My understanding is that it is very difficult to get any frequencys from frequency management. Back to the point--123.85 has been in and out of service, most OTS, since the beginning of 2/90. We're stuck with procedures which are burdensome and can't get the relief we need due to the frequency outage. I understand that this summer the solar activity will cause serious disruptions with our communications. I am concerned because we do not have enough frequencys for the sectorization we have, never mind a backup. Even a stuck microphone will render a sector useless.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CTLR COMPLAINS ABOUT EXPANDING POSITIONS WITHOUT ADEQUATE FREQ TO HANDLE TRAFFIC.

Narrative: I WORK AT BDL (Y90) APCH CTL. WE ARE A LEVEL 4 APCH. LAST YR WE RECONFIGURED OUR AIRSPACE FOR A 5 SECTOR OPERATION. WE HAVE SINCE THAT TIME STILL OPERATED ON A 4 SCOPE OPERATION DUE TO LACK OF STAFFING. THE CTLRS AT OUR FAC HAVE TRIED UNSUCCESSFULLY TO RETURN TO THE AIRSPACE AND PROCS FOR A 4 SCOPE OPERATION. NOW WE HAVE LOST A FREQ, 123.85. NOW WE DON'T HAVE A FREQ FOR THE FIFTH SECTOR WHICH IS SCHEDULED TO OPEN AND BE STAFFED ON 5/SUN/90. EVEN IF WE GET A FREQ FOR THE FIFTH SECTOR, WE DON'T EVEN HAVE A BACKUP FREQ. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO GET ANY FREQS FROM FREQ MGMNT. BACK TO THE POINT--123.85 HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF SVC, MOST OTS, SINCE THE BEGINNING OF 2/90. WE'RE STUCK WITH PROCS WHICH ARE BURDENSOME AND CAN'T GET THE RELIEF WE NEED DUE TO THE FREQ OUTAGE. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS SUMMER THE SOLAR ACTIVITY WILL CAUSE SERIOUS DISRUPTIONS WITH OUR COMS. I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH FREQS FOR THE SECTORIZATION WE HAVE, NEVER MIND A BACKUP. EVEN A STUCK MIC WILL RENDER A SECTOR USELESS.

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.