Narrative:

I was working the F2 (final control combined with 2 other sectors (ar-2 arrival east (feeder position) and ar-3 arrival 3 (overflt bwi arrival, adw arrival sector). It became apparent to me that the position needed to be split off (decombined) after reviewing the flight plan proposals. I requested that the position be decombined and the supervisor stated that the position did not need to be decombined. Within 15 mins the position became saturated with traffic and holding was initiated. The combination of combined sectors and the number of aircraft (10) created an unsafe situation by allowing too many aircraft in the sector(south). Although standard separation was not lost, the potential existed. This is not an isolated incident and measures should be taken to prevent this from occurring in the future. Dca recently received a full facility evaluation. The evaluation cited this type of problem and other instances of improper supervision. The supervisor's unwillingness to decombine position during peak traffic (heavy) periods is no benefit to the user and detrimental to the controller work force.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: APCH CTLR WORKING COMBINED POS ASKS SUPVR TO DECOMBINE POS DUE TO AN INCREASE IN TFC. SUPVR DISAGREES.

Narrative: I WAS WORKING THE F2 (FINAL CTL COMBINED WITH 2 OTHER SECTORS (AR-2 ARR E (FEEDER POS) AND AR-3 ARR 3 (OVERFLT BWI ARR, ADW ARR SECTOR). IT BECAME APPARENT TO ME THAT THE POS NEEDED TO BE SPLIT OFF (DECOMBINED) AFTER REVIEWING THE FLT PLAN PROPOSALS. I REQUESTED THAT THE POS BE DECOMBINED AND THE SUPVR STATED THAT THE POS DID NOT NEED TO BE DECOMBINED. WITHIN 15 MINS THE POS BECAME SATURATED WITH TFC AND HOLDING WAS INITIATED. THE COMBINATION OF COMBINED SECTORS AND THE NUMBER OF ACFT (10) CREATED AN UNSAFE SIT BY ALLOWING TOO MANY ACFT IN THE SECTOR(S). ALTHOUGH STANDARD SEPARATION WAS NOT LOST, THE POTENTIAL EXISTED. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT AND MEASURES SHOULD BE TAKEN TO PREVENT THIS FROM OCCURRING IN THE FUTURE. DCA RECENTLY RECEIVED A FULL FACILITY EVALUATION. THE EVALUATION CITED THIS TYPE OF PROB AND OTHER INSTANCES OF IMPROPER SUPERVISION. THE SUPVR'S UNWILLINGNESS TO DECOMBINE POS DURING PEAK TFC (HVY) PERIODS IS NO BENEFIT TO THE USER AND DETRIMENTAL TO THE CTLR WORK FORCE.

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.