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ZME controller expressed concern regarding airspace redesign; eliminating a high altitude sector and presenting increased traffic volume complexity.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 652720 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200503 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801 To 2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : zme.artcc |
| State Reference | TN |
| Environment | |
| Weather Elements | Thunderstorm |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : radar |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Experience | controller military : 2 controller non radar : 6 controller radar : 25 controller time certified in position1 : 3.25 |
| ASRS Report | 652720 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : anomaly accepted |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Airspace Structure FAA |
| Primary Problem | Airspace Structure |
Narrative:
The problem is sector 31 in ZME; or specifically; the lack of an ultra high sector above it and its sister sector R-30. Prior to summer of 2004; these 2 sectors had an overlying ultra high sector: 350/600. This sector was not opened often. My guess; 20% of the time; but during peak traffic and periods of adverse WX; it was absolutely necessary. In summer 2004; we had an airspace redesign and R32 (the ultra high sector) was abolished; despite the objections of a large percentage of controllers and supervisors. We were promised to get it back soon; but that doesn't look likely now. We have a frequency 135.9 and a scope. Please help us get it back. On mar/wed/05; I worked R-31 from approximately XA30-XB30. With thunderstorms; traffic volume; and aircraft deviations off course; the sector was; in my opinion; unsafe and unmanageable. During part of this time; there were 3 radar qualified controllers on position.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: ZME CTLR EXPRESSED CONCERN REGARDING AIRSPACE REDESIGN; ELIMINATING A HIGH ALT SECTOR AND PRESENTING INCREASED TFC VOLUME COMPLEXITY.
Narrative: THE PROB IS SECTOR 31 IN ZME; OR SPECIFICALLY; THE LACK OF AN ULTRA HIGH SECTOR ABOVE IT AND ITS SISTER SECTOR R-30. PRIOR TO SUMMER OF 2004; THESE 2 SECTORS HAD AN OVERLYING ULTRA HIGH SECTOR: 350/600. THIS SECTOR WAS NOT OPENED OFTEN. MY GUESS; 20% OF THE TIME; BUT DURING PEAK TFC AND PERIODS OF ADVERSE WX; IT WAS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. IN SUMMER 2004; WE HAD AN AIRSPACE REDESIGN AND R32 (THE ULTRA HIGH SECTOR) WAS ABOLISHED; DESPITE THE OBJECTIONS OF A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF CTLRS AND SUPVRS. WE WERE PROMISED TO GET IT BACK SOON; BUT THAT DOESN'T LOOK LIKELY NOW. WE HAVE A FREQ 135.9 AND A SCOPE. PLEASE HELP US GET IT BACK. ON MAR/WED/05; I WORKED R-31 FROM APPROX XA30-XB30. WITH TSTMS; TFC VOLUME; AND ACFT DEVS OFF COURSE; THE SECTOR WAS; IN MY OPINION; UNSAFE AND UNMANAGEABLE. DURING PART OF THIS TIME; THERE WERE 3 RADAR QUALIFIED CTLRS ON POS.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.