Narrative:

The special event has significant impact on the grb approach area. In the past several yrs; we have been able to support 9 full performance level atcs (fpl) per shift; plus a supervisor (flm). This yr someone in the office decided the facility could operate with 8 fpl's; and scheduling an flm only on some shifts. The traffic generated by this event can be unpredictable; and the WX is an important factor in the overall workload. It is apparent to nearly all the controllers at grb how our level of services to the customers has deteriorated. We received 3 complaint calls. During busy periods; we need to staff ground control and local control in the tower cabin attendant; in the TRACON; 3 radar position; and flight data. The facility requires 6 controllers on position; plus someone to act as controller in charge or flm. That requires 7 total people working position to provide quality service. When we have 8 total on a shift we have problems with providing necessary breaks. Another issue this yr is the flm's lack of experience with shift rotations and when to combine/de-combine position.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GRB CTLR VOICED CONCERN REGARDING MGMNT'S STAFFING DECISIONS DURING A SPECIAL EVENT.

Narrative: THE SPECIAL EVENT HAS SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE GRB APCH AREA. IN THE PAST SEVERAL YRS; WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SUPPORT 9 FULL PERFORMANCE LEVEL ATCS (FPL) PER SHIFT; PLUS A SUPVR (FLM). THIS YR SOMEONE IN THE OFFICE DECIDED THE FACILITY COULD OPERATE WITH 8 FPL'S; AND SCHEDULING AN FLM ONLY ON SOME SHIFTS. THE TFC GENERATED BY THIS EVENT CAN BE UNPREDICTABLE; AND THE WX IS AN IMPORTANT FACTOR IN THE OVERALL WORKLOAD. IT IS APPARENT TO NEARLY ALL THE CTLRS AT GRB HOW OUR LEVEL OF SVCS TO THE CUSTOMERS HAS DETERIORATED. WE RECEIVED 3 COMPLAINT CALLS. DURING BUSY PERIODS; WE NEED TO STAFF GND CTL AND LCL CTL IN THE TWR CAB; IN THE TRACON; 3 RADAR POS; AND FLT DATA. THE FACILITY REQUIRES 6 CTLRS ON POS; PLUS SOMEONE TO ACT AS CIC OR FLM. THAT REQUIRES 7 TOTAL PEOPLE WORKING POS TO PROVIDE QUALITY SVC. WHEN WE HAVE 8 TOTAL ON A SHIFT WE HAVE PROBS WITH PROVIDING NECESSARY BREAKS. ANOTHER ISSUE THIS YR IS THE FLM'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE WITH SHIFT ROTATIONS AND WHEN TO COMBINE/DE-COMBINE 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.