ARTCC radar controller working combined sectors during adverse WX conditions asked for in trail spac...

Attributes
ACN	708411
Time
Date	200608
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : atl.airport
State Reference	GA
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	Rain Thunderstorm
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl.artcc
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 21
ASRS Report	708411
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : supervisor
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	FAA Weather Airspace Structure
Primary Problem	FAA

Narrative:

I was working north departure and hinch mountain sectors on late night shift; working atl north departures. Thunderstorms impacted atl area and throughout north departure sectors. All departures and en route aircraft were deviating and departures were plentiful due to WX during the evening at atl. Atl approach was launching departures quickly with no in trail spacing or regard to deviations by departures. I requested from the supervisor; to have 2 streams of departures and 10 mi in trail on each stream. I felt this would make the situation more safe and assist with all the departures. The supervisor then went to either tmu or osic; but returned to tell me that we could not have in trail because aircraft were 'backed up at the airport and atl approach needed to get them out of there.' this created and perpetuated even further the unsafe situation. There should have been in trail spacing; more staffing and more concern for the safety of the aircraft. There was none exhibited by the FAA and I was made to work an unsafe situation. The supervisor left to go home immediately after this situation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ARTCC RADAR CTLR WORKING COMBINED SECTORS DURING ADVERSE WX CONDITIONS ASKED FOR IN TRAIL SPACING ON DEPS OFF OF ATL DUE TO WORKLOAD; BUT WAS DENIED ANY RELIEF BECAUSE OF A BACKUP OF TFC.

Narrative: I WAS WORKING N DEP AND HINCH MOUNTAIN SECTORS ON LATE NIGHT SHIFT; WORKING ATL N DEPS. TSTMS IMPACTED ATL AREA AND THROUGHOUT N DEP SECTORS. ALL DEPS AND ENRTE ACFT WERE DEVIATING AND DEPS WERE PLENTIFUL DUE TO WX DURING THE EVENING AT ATL. ATL APCH WAS LAUNCHING DEPS QUICKLY WITH NO IN TRAIL SPACING OR REGARD TO DEVS BY DEPS. I REQUESTED FROM THE SUPVR; TO HAVE 2 STREAMS OF DEPS AND 10 MI IN TRAIL ON EACH STREAM. I FELT THIS WOULD MAKE THE SITUATION MORE SAFE AND ASSIST WITH ALL THE DEPS. THE SUPVR THEN WENT TO EITHER TMU OR OSIC; BUT RETURNED TO TELL ME THAT WE COULD NOT HAVE IN TRAIL BECAUSE ACFT WERE 'BACKED UP AT THE ARPT AND ATL APCH NEEDED TO GET THEM OUT OF THERE.' THIS CREATED AND PERPETUATED EVEN FURTHER THE UNSAFE SITUATION. THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN TRAIL SPACING; MORE STAFFING AND MORE CONCERN FOR THE SAFETY OF THE ACFT. THERE WAS NONE EXHIBITED BY THE FAA AND I WAS MADE TO WORK AN UNSAFE SITUATION. THE SUPVR LEFT TO GO HOME IMMEDIATELY AFTER THIS SITUATION.

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.

ARTCC radar controller working combined sectors during adverse WX conditions asked for in trail spacing on departures off of atl due to workload; but was denied any relief because of a backup of traffic.