Narrative:

The G4 and B717 were on converging headings both level at 12000 ft. The radar and handoff controller noticed the problem at the same time when the aircraft were about 4 1/2 mi apart. The G4 was issued a climb and the B717 was issued a turn of approximately 70 degrees to the right to avoid the G4. Separation was lost for a period of about 15 seconds. Radar data showed proximity of 2.92 NM and 0 ft and 1.82 NM 800 ft. This occurred as the radar and handoff controller were trying to stop departures for 2 departure routes to ZNY because of volume and a 15 NM in-trail restr in effect. ZNY had also requested that the aircraft being fed on those 2 routes be restr to 250 KIAS thus adding to the complexity. Coordination was also being made to hold 2 additional aircraft from entering the airspace due to volume. Excessive vectoring in order to provide in-trail spacing requirements; heavy volume and extensive coordination distraction the 2 controllers from their primary responsibility of separating the aircraft. In addition; the following are believed to be causal factors: 1) N90 management; several weeks ago; implemented a mandatory position staffing policy. 70% of controllers on duty must be on a position; regardless of the level of traffic. This has drastically reduced break time during shifts. In addition; management is not properly balancing shifts. Some shifts have too many people working; others don't have enough. There has been a very noticeable increase in fatigue and reduced awareness of controllers at N90. Mistakes are becoming more common. 2) on sep/xa/06; the FAA imposed new work rules on controllers. This is causing a major distraction to the workforce. This has destroyed morale and is interfering with controllers' abilities to perform their job safely.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: N90 CTLR EXPERIENCED OPERROR AT 12000 FT WITH CONVERGING TFC AT THE SAME ALT.

Narrative: THE G4 AND B717 WERE ON CONVERGING HDGS BOTH LEVEL AT 12000 FT. THE RADAR AND HDOF CTLR NOTICED THE PROB AT THE SAME TIME WHEN THE ACFT WERE ABOUT 4 1/2 MI APART. THE G4 WAS ISSUED A CLB AND THE B717 WAS ISSUED A TURN OF APPROX 70 DEGS TO THE R TO AVOID THE G4. SEPARATION WAS LOST FOR A PERIOD OF ABOUT 15 SECONDS. RADAR DATA SHOWED PROXIMITY OF 2.92 NM AND 0 FT AND 1.82 NM 800 FT. THIS OCCURRED AS THE RADAR AND HDOF CTLR WERE TRYING TO STOP DEPS FOR 2 DEP ROUTES TO ZNY BECAUSE OF VOLUME AND A 15 NM IN-TRAIL RESTR IN EFFECT. ZNY HAD ALSO REQUESTED THAT THE ACFT BEING FED ON THOSE 2 ROUTES BE RESTR TO 250 KIAS THUS ADDING TO THE COMPLEXITY. COORD WAS ALSO BEING MADE TO HOLD 2 ADDITIONAL ACFT FROM ENTERING THE AIRSPACE DUE TO VOLUME. EXCESSIVE VECTORING IN ORDER TO PROVIDE IN-TRAIL SPACING REQUIREMENTS; HVY VOLUME AND EXTENSIVE COORD DISTR THE 2 CTLRS FROM THEIR PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY OF SEPARATING THE ACFT. IN ADDITION; THE FOLLOWING ARE BELIEVED TO BE CAUSAL FACTORS: 1) N90 MGMNT; SEVERAL WKS AGO; IMPLEMENTED A MANDATORY POS STAFFING POLICY. 70% OF CTLRS ON DUTY MUST BE ON A POS; REGARDLESS OF THE LEVEL OF TFC. THIS HAS DRASTICALLY REDUCED BREAK TIME DURING SHIFTS. IN ADDITION; MGMNT IS NOT PROPERLY BALANCING SHIFTS. SOME SHIFTS HAVE TOO MANY PEOPLE WORKING; OTHERS DON'T HAVE ENOUGH. THERE HAS BEEN A VERY NOTICEABLE INCREASE IN FATIGUE AND REDUCED AWARENESS OF CTLRS AT N90. MISTAKES ARE BECOMING MORE COMMON. 2) ON SEP/XA/06; THE FAA IMPOSED NEW WORK RULES ON CTLRS. THIS IS CAUSING A MAJOR DISTR TO THE WORKFORCE. THIS HAS DESTROYED MORALE AND IS INTERFERING WITH CTLRS' ABILITIES TO PERFORM THEIR JOB SAFELY.

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.