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|
Attributes | |
ACN | 1512436 |
Time | |
Date | 201801 |
Local Time Of Day | 1801-2400 |
Place | |
Locale Reference | ZAN.ARTCC |
State Reference | AK |
Aircraft 1 | |
Make Model Name | Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer |
Operating Under FAR Part | Other unknown |
Flight Plan | IFR |
Person 1 | |
Function | Enroute |
Qualification | Air Traffic Control Fully Certified |
Experience | Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 7 |
Events | |
Anomaly | ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Procedural Other / Unknown |
Narrative:
There was an extremely unsafe situation where traffic complexity and workload were too high. We just started new coordination procedures with russia and it was my first time utilizing these procedures on the atop(advanced technologies and oceanic procedures) platform. There was moderate traffic in the sector that most of our russian traffic goes through. The new procedures for coordination are much different than the other platform that we work. There were a lot of phone calls and confusion between myself and russia. The other 2 sectors were getting moderate over flight traffic as well as several airport departures and arrivals.I knew right when I took the sector that I was going to need it split soon. I immediately informed the controller in charge (controller in charge) that they were going to need to split the sector. He said that we didn't really have anyone at the moment to split it but that he would be able to soon. After about 10 more minutes I informed the controller in charge again that I needed it split. Atop was showing multiple conflicts and russian coordination was almost overdue. I was falling behind and needed help. I told him that he needed to get a supervisor out to take the desk (I knew there was at least one supervisor for my area present) so he can split it or get someone else to do it. He said ok and walked away. Another 15 minutes or so went by and its still not split. The controller in charge is then sitting at the console next to me for about 5-10 minutes not saying anything to me. At this point it is getting dangerous and I was losing the picture. I had 3 different facilities calling me at the same time for coordination and multiple aircraft calling. I could not keep up with the traffic. I had to raise my voice and state that I needed a sector split now! It was then split and another controller came to relieve me. The sectors were a mess and I was told it took at least an hour to get it back under control. Thankfully there was no loss of separation or accidents but it was a very risky and unsafe situation.cics need to be trained on what to do when a controller says that the workload is getting too high. In the event that no supervisor is available to take the desk; we need a procedure in place to allow that controller to pass that responsibility to some one else.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: ZAN Center Controller reported being overwhelmed with traffic and coordination while working combined sectors even after having making multiple requests for assistance.
Narrative: There was an extremely unsafe situation where traffic complexity and workload were too high. We just started new coordination procedures with Russia and it was my first time utilizing these procedures on the ATOP(Advanced Technologies and Oceanic Procedures) platform. There was moderate traffic in the sector that most of our Russian traffic goes through. The new procedures for coordination are much different than the other platform that we work. There were a lot of phone calls and confusion between myself and Russia. The other 2 sectors were getting moderate over flight traffic as well as several airport departures and arrivals.I knew right when I took the sector that I was going to need it split soon. I immediately informed the CIC (Controller in Charge) that they were going to need to split the sector. He said that we didn't really have anyone at the moment to split it but that he would be able to soon. After about 10 more minutes I informed the CIC again that I needed it split. ATOP was showing multiple conflicts and Russian coordination was almost overdue. I was falling behind and needed help. I told him that he needed to get a supervisor out to take the desk (I knew there was at least one supervisor for my area present) so he can split it or get someone else to do it. He said ok and walked away. Another 15 minutes or so went by and its still not split. The CIC is then sitting at the console next to me for about 5-10 minutes not saying anything to me. At this point it is getting dangerous and I was losing the picture. I had 3 different facilities calling me at the same time for coordination and multiple aircraft calling. I could not keep up with the traffic. I had to raise my voice and state that I needed a sector split NOW! It was then split and another controller came to relieve me. The sectors were a mess and I was told it took at least an hour to get it back under control. Thankfully there was no loss of separation or accidents but it was a very risky and unsafe situation.CICs need to be trained on what to do when a controller says that the workload is getting too high. In the event that no supervisor is available to take the desk; we need a procedure in place to allow that controller to pass that responsibility to some one else.
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.