Controller workload overload due to combined position of operation.

Attributes
ACN	293052
Time
Date	199501
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : phx
State Reference	AZ
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : phx
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 4
ASRS Report	293052
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	oversight : supervisor
Qualification	controller : radar
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:

On jan/xx/95 at approximately XA00, I was working the final control position at phx radar approach control (P50 TRACON). I was working both the north finals (F) sector and south finals (X) sector combined to 1 radar position. During this time period the WX was VFR with strong gusting winds from the west during and just after sunset (dusk). No simultaneous visual approachs for parallel runways 26 were in use. Starting at approximately XB30 an excessive volume of arrival traffic was realized. The volume of traffic was complicated by a combination of strong tailwinds on the downwind and strong headwinds on the final. The traffic was additionally exasperated by it being the hours of dusk, making visual acquisition of the airport and traffic difficult. Proper traffic management was made nearly impossible during this period because the dual finals were combined to 1 section, and the area supervisor attempted to perform the duties of controller in charge (controller in charge), arc (arrival radar coordinator) and tmc (traffic management coordinator). The volume and complexity of traffic was excessive and I received no help.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CTLR WORKLOAD OVERLOAD DUE TO COMBINED POS OF OP.

Narrative: ON JAN/XX/95 AT APPROX XA00, I WAS WORKING THE FINAL CTL POS AT PHX RADAR APCH CTL (P50 TRACON). I WAS WORKING BOTH THE N FINALS (F) SECTOR AND S FINALS (X) SECTOR COMBINED TO 1 RADAR POS. DURING THIS TIME PERIOD THE WX WAS VFR WITH STRONG GUSTING WINDS FROM THE W DURING AND JUST AFTER SUNSET (DUSK). NO SIMULTANEOUS VISUAL APCHS FOR PARALLEL RWYS 26 WERE IN USE. STARTING AT APPROX XB30 AN EXCESSIVE VOLUME OF ARR TFC WAS REALIZED. THE VOLUME OF TFC WAS COMPLICATED BY A COMBINATION OF STRONG TAILWINDS ON THE DOWNWIND AND STRONG HEADWINDS ON THE FINAL. THE TFC WAS ADDITIONALLY EXASPERATED BY IT BEING THE HRS OF DUSK, MAKING VISUAL ACQUISITION OF THE ARPT AND TFC DIFFICULT. PROPER TFC MGMNT WAS MADE NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE DURING THIS PERIOD BECAUSE THE DUAL FINALS WERE COMBINED TO 1 SECTION, AND THE AREA SUPVR ATTEMPTED TO PERFORM THE DUTIES OF CIC (CTLR IN CHARGE), ARC (ARRIVAL RADAR COORDINATOR) AND TMC (TFC MGMNT COORDINATOR). THE VOLUME AND COMPLEXITY OF TFC WAS EXCESSIVE AND I RECEIVED NO HELP.

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.