Narrative:

The current system used at ZSE for NOTAM dissemination is flawed and results in information overload for controllers. The NOTAMS are posted electronically on the en route information display system (erids). Tonight there were 60 NOTAMS posted for the controller to review and memorize on sector 30. Out of those; only approximately 20 NOTAMS actually affected the sector operations. Prior to using erids; the NOTAM dissemination was handled by the amic and the area supervisor. NOTAMS that had no impact on operations were filtered out manually prior to ever reaching the control position and were never posted. The new process for NOTAM dissemination sends all NOTAMS to the sector automatically. They include superfluous information that has little or no impact on the operation of the sector such as unlighted antennas that are well clear of airport operations. There is a method for the controller to filter/sort this information by hand but it requires great diligence to keep the appropriate information displayed and to cull out the superfluous data. Because of the large amount of data coming and going; it is possible that an important NOTAM that does affect sector operations could get lost amongst other data and not reach the controller or a pilot who needs the information. Suggested solution is to revert to old system for NOTAM dissemination or filter the NOTAMS by hand before they reach the control position erids monitor. Either solution would free up the controller to perform higher priority duties and ensure accuracy of displayed information.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZSE CTLR VOICED CONCERN REGARDING ELECTRONIC METHOD OF NOTAM INFO; ERIDS; THAT DISPLAYS ALL NOTAMS REGARDLESS OF RELEVANCE TO OPS.

Narrative: THE CURRENT SYS USED AT ZSE FOR NOTAM DISSEMINATION IS FLAWED AND RESULTS IN INFO OVERLOAD FOR CTLRS. THE NOTAMS ARE POSTED ELECTRONICALLY ON THE ENRTE INFO DISPLAY SYS (ERIDS). TONIGHT THERE WERE 60 NOTAMS POSTED FOR THE CTLR TO REVIEW AND MEMORIZE ON SECTOR 30. OUT OF THOSE; ONLY APPROX 20 NOTAMS ACTUALLY AFFECTED THE SECTOR OPS. PRIOR TO USING ERIDS; THE NOTAM DISSEMINATION WAS HANDLED BY THE AMIC AND THE AREA SUPVR. NOTAMS THAT HAD NO IMPACT ON OPS WERE FILTERED OUT MANUALLY PRIOR TO EVER REACHING THE CTL POS AND WERE NEVER POSTED. THE NEW PROCESS FOR NOTAM DISSEMINATION SENDS ALL NOTAMS TO THE SECTOR AUTOMATICALLY. THEY INCLUDE SUPERFLUOUS INFO THAT HAS LITTLE OR NO IMPACT ON THE OP OF THE SECTOR SUCH AS UNLIGHTED ANTENNAS THAT ARE WELL CLR OF ARPT OPS. THERE IS A METHOD FOR THE CTLR TO FILTER/SORT THIS INFO BY HAND BUT IT REQUIRES GREAT DILIGENCE TO KEEP THE APPROPRIATE INFO DISPLAYED AND TO CULL OUT THE SUPERFLUOUS DATA. BECAUSE OF THE LARGE AMOUNT OF DATA COMING AND GOING; IT IS POSSIBLE THAT AN IMPORTANT NOTAM THAT DOES AFFECT SECTOR OPS COULD GET LOST AMONGST OTHER DATA AND NOT REACH THE CTLR OR A PLT WHO NEEDS THE INFO. SUGGESTED SOLUTION IS TO REVERT TO OLD SYS FOR NOTAM DISSEMINATION OR FILTER THE NOTAMS BY HAND BEFORE THEY REACH THE CTL POS ERIDS MONITOR. EITHER SOLUTION WOULD FREE UP THE CTLR TO PERFORM HIGHER PRIORITY DUTIES AND ENSURE ACCURACY OF DISPLAYED INFO.

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.