Controller claims that new facility policy to have all aircraft on 1 frequency when position are com...

Attributes
ACN	381590
Time
Date	199709
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : csg
State Reference	GA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
ASRS Report	381590
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	oversight : supervisor
Qualification	other other : other
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
ATC Facility	procedure or policy : unspecified

Narrative:

Columbus approach control has 3 sectors and 12 frequencys. Previously, when sectors were combined the controller used all the frequencys assigned to the combined sectors. Surrounding facilities would put aircraft on the frequency assigned to the csg sector that the aircraft was going to enter. Now all aircraft are required to be on the same frequency. This means that whenever sectors are combined or split apart we have to notify 7 different approach control sectors and 3 center sectors that there is going to be a change in the frequency that they use for csg. In addition, VFR pilots calling us using the frequencys listed on sectional charts often have to be changed to another frequency depending on the sector confign. Needless to say, this procedure has caused a great increase in the controller's workload here at columbus and is a source of confusion at the surrounding facilities with controllers having to remember a new frequency several times a day. The solution to this problem would be a return to the previous procedure which worked well for many yrs.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CTLR CLAIMS THAT NEW FACILITY POLICY TO HAVE ALL ACFT ON 1 FREQ WHEN POS ARE COMBINED CREATES ADDITIONAL WORKLOAD FOR BOTH PLTS AND CTLRS.

Narrative: COLUMBUS APCH CTL HAS 3 SECTORS AND 12 FREQS. PREVIOUSLY, WHEN SECTORS WERE COMBINED THE CTLR USED ALL THE FREQS ASSIGNED TO THE COMBINED SECTORS. SURROUNDING FACILITIES WOULD PUT ACFT ON THE FREQ ASSIGNED TO THE CSG SECTOR THAT THE ACFT WAS GOING TO ENTER. NOW ALL ACFT ARE REQUIRED TO BE ON THE SAME FREQ. THIS MEANS THAT WHENEVER SECTORS ARE COMBINED OR SPLIT APART WE HAVE TO NOTIFY 7 DIFFERENT APCH CTL SECTORS AND 3 CTR SECTORS THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE A CHANGE IN THE FREQ THAT THEY USE FOR CSG. IN ADDITION, VFR PLTS CALLING US USING THE FREQS LISTED ON SECTIONAL CHARTS OFTEN HAVE TO BE CHANGED TO ANOTHER FREQ DEPENDING ON THE SECTOR CONFIGN. NEEDLESS TO SAY, THIS PROC HAS CAUSED A GREAT INCREASE IN THE CTLR'S WORKLOAD HERE AT COLUMBUS AND IS A SOURCE OF CONFUSION AT THE SURROUNDING FACILITIES WITH CTLRS HAVING TO REMEMBER A NEW FREQ SEVERAL TIMES A DAY. THE SOLUTION TO THIS PROB WOULD BE A RETURN TO THE PREVIOUS PROC WHICH WORKED WELL FOR MANY YRS.

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.

Controller claims that new facility policy to have all aircraft on 1 frequency when position are combined creates additional workload for both pilots and controllers.