Narrative:

At san juan cenrap; en route controllers work 5 sectors (sectors 2; 4; 6; 8M and ocean 10). At all of the sectors non radar coordination is required. Sector 6 is composed of a 'radar controller' position (R6); a 'radar associate'/'manual controller' position (D6); and a radar flight data controller position (A6). Radar handoff capability exists between miami ARTCC and cenrap sectors. Handoffs to miami are limited to transponder-equipped aircraft operating at or above FL220. Non radar coordination is required for all other aircraft and all traffic to and from mdsd approach control. As a practice; when sector 6 is not combined with sector 4; the R6 controller gets assigned an a-side instead of a certified non radar controller to work on the sector. The problem with this practice is that coordination is required in this sector just like it is for sectors 4; 2 and 8. If sector 6 is opened; it is because it is too busy to remain combined with sector 4. The R6 controller has to stop working his traffic in order to answer the phone line; take and forward estimates and copy flight plans from mdsd. All of this constitutes an increase of workload for the radar controller and safety is jeopardized.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZSU CTLR EXPRESSED CONCERN REGARDING STAFFING AND QUALIFICATION PROCS USED AT THE FACILITY.

Narrative: AT SAN JUAN CENRAP; ENRTE CTLRS WORK 5 SECTORS (SECTORS 2; 4; 6; 8M AND OCEAN 10). AT ALL OF THE SECTORS NON RADAR COORD IS REQUIRED. SECTOR 6 IS COMPOSED OF A 'RADAR CTLR' POS (R6); A 'RADAR ASSOCIATE'/'MANUAL CTLR' POS (D6); AND A RADAR FLT DATA CTLR POS (A6). RADAR HDOF CAPABILITY EXISTS BTWN MIAMI ARTCC AND CENRAP SECTORS. HDOFS TO MIAMI ARE LIMITED TO XPONDER-EQUIPPED ACFT OPERATING AT OR ABOVE FL220. NON RADAR COORD IS REQUIRED FOR ALL OTHER ACFT AND ALL TFC TO AND FROM MDSD APCH CTL. AS A PRACTICE; WHEN SECTOR 6 IS NOT COMBINED WITH SECTOR 4; THE R6 CTLR GETS ASSIGNED AN A-SIDE INSTEAD OF A CERTIFIED NON RADAR CTLR TO WORK ON THE SECTOR. THE PROB WITH THIS PRACTICE IS THAT COORD IS REQUIRED IN THIS SECTOR JUST LIKE IT IS FOR SECTORS 4; 2 AND 8. IF SECTOR 6 IS OPENED; IT IS BECAUSE IT IS TOO BUSY TO REMAIN COMBINED WITH SECTOR 4. THE R6 CTLR HAS TO STOP WORKING HIS TFC IN ORDER TO ANSWER THE PHONE LINE; TAKE AND FORWARD ESTIMATES AND COPY FLT PLANS FROM MDSD. ALL OF THIS CONSTITUTES AN INCREASE OF WORKLOAD FOR THE RADAR CTLR AND SAFETY IS JEOPARDIZED.

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.