Narrative:

We had the area combined into two sectors; although we had the staffing to have three open. I had sectors 09; 10; 12; and 31 combined; which was a normal configuration pre-midshift before covid; and a normal combination on a daily basis during covid schedules. This combination tends to get pretty busy; with VFR's; military traffic; plus the IFR's; but I've been working it a lot these last few months; so I'm pretty used to it by now. We also had an flm present in the area; sitting at the supervisor's desk doing something on the computer.I started getting busy with aircraft after aircraft calling to pick up flight following and/or a pre-filed IFR clearance off an airport (ipl) for which we provide approach control services. First; aircraft X called airborne off ipl; looking for his IFR clearance. I gave him his code to squawk and told him to standby and maintain VFR. Went to make sure I was caught up on all the other aircraft. Then aircraft Z called requesting VFR flight following. I eventually got back to him after finishing up shipping other aircraft; issuing other necessary clearances; etc. Gave him his code and told him to maintain VFR and standby. Then aircraft Y called airborne off ipl also looking for his IFR clearance. I gave him his code to squawk and told him to maintain VFR; it would be a minute; that I couldn't seem to catch up.at this point I had 15 aircraft on two frequencies. Aircraft X was a small aircraft and aircraft Y was a slightly bigger/faster aircraft; and I recognized that the aircraft Y may overtake aircraft X and they were close; enough so that I didn't want to give the front aircraft X his IFR clearance yet; especially when I was so busy and couldn't watch the two closely. I did tell aircraft Y that restricted area was cold; and that if he could maintain VFR and start heading toward jli [VOR]; that I would be able to give him his IFR clearance eventually direct jli [VOR]; but this would help speed it up (because it provided separation between aircraft X and aircraft Y). During this time aircraft a was also calling me for an IFR clearance; off an airport right near ipl. I told him I was too busy and to standby. I also was trying to coordinate the activation of a MOA with adjacent sectors/facilities. The other controller in the area noticed I was busy and asked if he could help with the MOA coordination.I gave aircraft Y his IFR clearance direct jli [VOR] then as filed; maintain 10;000. I had 4 data blocks (aircraft Y; aircraft B; aircraft C; aircraft X) within a 5.5NM area; working on a range where I'm watching more than 200 miles of airspace. I gave aircraft X his IFR clearance; turning him to a heading of 285; in preparation for the required LOA handoff to the approach control; climbing to 100. I'm not sure why I didn't see aircraft Y leaving 077 for 100 when I gave aircraft X his turn (from about a 255 heading) to H285 and clearance leaving 081 for 100; other than I was getting frazzled from being so busy and not being able to catch up; and having the 4 data blocks right close to one another. Conflict alert went off and as soon as I saw it; I turned aircraft Y to a H315 and aircraft X to a H255.I want to be very clear that I didn't directly ask the flm for help; and I know I have a responsibility to do so. But I suspect that if close attention was being paid to what was going on in the area (there were two controllers in the area with two sectors open - there was nothing else happening that would have been drawing their attention away). I said multiple times out loud on frequency that I was busy; that I couldn't catch up; etc; which drew the other controller in the area's attention to my workload; but the flm never came over to see if I needed help or to act as an extra set of eyes to get me through this period. I believe if the flm had noticed and either came over to at least watch over my shoulder as an extra set of eyes; this might have been prevented. It was too late to call another controller back; I was too busy to separate the sectors. Or...they should have just had three sectors open since my sector(s) were busy and we had the staffing to do so.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZLA Center Controller reported losing separation due to traffic volume; watching too large of an area and the COVID-19 configuration.

Narrative: We had the area combined into two sectors; although we had the staffing to have three open. I had Sectors 09; 10; 12; and 31 combined; which was a normal configuration pre-midshift before COVID; and a normal combination on a daily basis during COVID schedules. This combination tends to get pretty busy; with VFR's; military traffic; plus the IFR's; but I've been working it a lot these last few months; so I'm pretty used to it by now. We also had an FLM present in the area; sitting at the Supervisor's desk doing something on the computer.I started getting busy with aircraft after aircraft calling to pick up flight following and/or a pre-filed IFR clearance off an airport (IPL) for which we provide approach control services. First; Aircraft X called airborne off IPL; looking for his IFR clearance. I gave him his code to squawk and told him to standby and maintain VFR. Went to make sure I was caught up on all the other aircraft. Then Aircraft Z called requesting VFR flight following. I eventually got back to him after finishing up shipping other aircraft; issuing other necessary clearances; etc. Gave him his code and told him to maintain VFR and standby. Then Aircraft Y called airborne off IPL also looking for his IFR clearance. I gave him his code to squawk and told him to maintain VFR; it would be a minute; that I couldn't seem to catch up.At this point I had 15 aircraft on two frequencies. Aircraft X was a small aircraft and Aircraft Y was a slightly bigger/faster aircraft; and I recognized that the Aircraft Y may overtake Aircraft X and they were close; enough so that I didn't want to give the front Aircraft X his IFR clearance yet; especially when I was so busy and couldn't watch the two closely. I did tell Aircraft Y that restricted area was cold; and that if he could maintain VFR and start heading toward JLI [VOR]; that I would be able to give him his IFR clearance eventually direct JLI [VOR]; but this would help speed it up (Because it provided separation between Aircraft X and Aircraft Y). During this time Aircraft A was also calling me for an IFR clearance; off an airport right near IPL. I told him I was too busy and to standby. I also was trying to coordinate the activation of a MOA with adjacent sectors/facilities. The other Controller in the area noticed I was busy and asked if he could help with the MOA coordination.I gave Aircraft Y his IFR clearance direct JLI [VOR] then as filed; maintain 10;000. I had 4 data blocks (Aircraft Y; Aircraft B; Aircraft C; Aircraft X) within a 5.5NM area; working on a range where I'm watching more than 200 miles of airspace. I gave Aircraft X his IFR clearance; turning him to a heading of 285; in preparation for the required LOA handoff to the Approach Control; climbing to 100. I'm not sure why I didn't see Aircraft Y leaving 077 for 100 when I gave Aircraft X his turn (from about a 255 heading) to H285 and clearance leaving 081 for 100; other than I was getting frazzled from being so busy and not being able to catch up; and having the 4 data blocks right close to one another. Conflict alert went off and as soon as I saw it; I turned Aircraft Y to a H315 and Aircraft X to a H255.I want to be very clear that I didn't directly ask the FLM for help; and I know I have a responsibility to do so. But I suspect that if close attention was being paid to what was going on in the area (there were two controllers in the area with two sectors open - there was nothing else happening that would have been drawing their attention away). I said multiple times out loud on frequency that I was busy; that I couldn't catch up; etc; which drew the other Controller in the area's attention to my workload; but the FLM never came over to see if I needed help or to act as an extra set of eyes to get me through this period. I believe if the FLM had noticed and either came over to at least watch over my shoulder as an extra set of eyes; this might have been prevented. It was too late to call another Controller back; I was too busy to separate the sectors. Or...they should have just had three sectors open since my sector(s) were busy and we had the staffing to do so.

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.