Narrative:

Pdx ATCT is a level iv radar cabin attendant with 4 operating position. Local controller, ground controller, clearance delivery and pd (pearson airport). When a supervisor is working the schedule is never below 4 fpl's and the supervisor. On the days in question, there is no supervisor, and the schedule is covered by a controller in charge and 3 fpl's. We have asked that staffing be increased and that this lower number not be used with a controller in charge. After PP18 was published mr. X assured us this would not occur again yet the very next schedule (PP19) the very same thing happened. With only 4 bodies and 4 position we are forced to combine position to get even a bathroom break, let alone lunch. Most times the position are too busy to be safely combined, but we must do it anyway, or spend the entire 8 hours on position without a break. We have tried for 8 yrs at this facility to affect a change to this unacceptable and unsafe policy, but have failed. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter stated the new position in the tower is traffic advisory to users of an adjacent airport due to a new approach procedure which overflies it. Reporter said that they were told by facility management that a shift coverage of 3 controllers and a controller in charge would not be scheduled. Reporter indicated that when it was scheduled, they were told not to worry about it and that it would be taken care of. Reporter stated that the facility amo covered 2 of the scheduled controller in charge/3 controller shifts. Reporter felt additional staffing is needed for coverage of the new advisory position since there are 4 control position in tower. Reporter indicated a wait and see attitude regarding staffing of future shift schedules.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: RPTR STATES WHEN A SUPVR IS SCHEDULED THERE ARE 4 CTLRS ASSIGNED TO THE SHIFT. WHEN A CIC IS SCHEDULED THERE ARE 3 CTLRS ASSIGNED TO THE SHIFT TO COVER THE 4 CTL POS IN THE TWR.

Narrative: PDX ATCT IS A LEVEL IV RADAR CAB WITH 4 OPERATING POS. LCL CTLR, GND CTLR, CD AND PD (PEARSON ARPT). WHEN A SUPVR IS WORKING THE SCHEDULE IS NEVER BELOW 4 FPL'S AND THE SUPVR. ON THE DAYS IN QUESTION, THERE IS NO SUPVR, AND THE SCHEDULE IS COVERED BY A CIC AND 3 FPL'S. WE HAVE ASKED THAT STAFFING BE INCREASED AND THAT THIS LOWER NUMBER NOT BE USED WITH A CIC. AFTER PP18 WAS PUBLISHED MR. X ASSURED US THIS WOULD NOT OCCUR AGAIN YET THE VERY NEXT SCHEDULE (PP19) THE VERY SAME THING HAPPENED. WITH ONLY 4 BODIES AND 4 POS WE ARE FORCED TO COMBINE POS TO GET EVEN A BATHROOM BREAK, LET ALONE LUNCH. MOST TIMES THE POS ARE TOO BUSY TO BE SAFELY COMBINED, BUT WE MUST DO IT ANYWAY, OR SPEND THE ENTIRE 8 HRS ON POS WITHOUT A BREAK. WE HAVE TRIED FOR 8 YRS AT THIS FACILITY TO AFFECT A CHANGE TO THIS UNACCEPTABLE AND UNSAFE POLICY, BUT HAVE FAILED. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATED THE NEW POS IN THE TWR IS TFC ADVISORY TO USERS OF AN ADJACENT ARPT DUE TO A NEW APCH PROC WHICH OVERFLIES IT. RPTR SAID THAT THEY WERE TOLD BY FACILITY MGMNT THAT A SHIFT COVERAGE OF 3 CTLRS AND A CIC WOULD NOT BE SCHEDULED. RPTR INDICATED THAT WHEN IT WAS SCHEDULED, THEY WERE TOLD NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT AND THAT IT WOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF. RPTR STATED THAT THE FACILITY AMO COVERED 2 OF THE SCHEDULED CIC/3 CTLR SHIFTS. RPTR FELT ADDITIONAL STAFFING IS NEEDED FOR COVERAGE OF THE NEW ADVISORY POS SINCE THERE ARE 4 CTL POS IN TWR. RPTR INDICATED A WAIT AND SEE ATTITUDE REGARDING STAFFING OF FUTURE SHIFT SCHEDULES.

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.