Narrative:

Staffing levels at mci are becoming so critical that it happens often where there are only 4 controllers assigned in the radar room. When this happens; as it did recently; we find ourselves unable to open needed position. Arrival controller needed a final controller to open between XA00 and XC00. Satellite controller needed another satellite controller or a handoff from XB00 to XD00. Departure controller needed another departure controller most of the day. One of the most understaffed position is the 'ad' position; in which a supervisor was assigned to accomplish; plus the supervisor's other duties. There were at least 2 pilots trying to pick up their IFR clearance on the 'rtr;' and were unable because the supervisor was busy with other duties. Those pilots then took off VFR and picked up the IFR clearance in the air; which made satellite position more difficult. Mci needed 5; maybe 6; position opened up; but were unable because we only had 4 controllers. Management attempted to bring in 1 from staffing; but that still made us 2 short. This procedure is not the exception anymore; but the norm.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MCI CTLR EXPRESSED CONCERN REGARDING REDUCED STAFFING LEVELS THAT PROHIBIT THE OPENING OF NEEDED OPS POSITION.

Narrative: STAFFING LEVELS AT MCI ARE BECOMING SO CRITICAL THAT IT HAPPENS OFTEN WHERE THERE ARE ONLY 4 CTLRS ASSIGNED IN THE RADAR ROOM. WHEN THIS HAPPENS; AS IT DID RECENTLY; WE FIND OURSELVES UNABLE TO OPEN NEEDED POS. ARR CTLR NEEDED A FINAL CTLR TO OPEN BTWN XA00 AND XC00. SATELLITE CTLR NEEDED ANOTHER SATELLITE CTLR OR A HDOF FROM XB00 TO XD00. DEP CTLR NEEDED ANOTHER DEP CTLR MOST OF THE DAY. ONE OF THE MOST UNDERSTAFFED POS IS THE 'AD' POS; IN WHICH A SUPVR WAS ASSIGNED TO ACCOMPLISH; PLUS THE SUPVR'S OTHER DUTIES. THERE WERE AT LEAST 2 PLTS TRYING TO PICK UP THEIR IFR CLRNC ON THE 'RTR;' AND WERE UNABLE BECAUSE THE SUPVR WAS BUSY WITH OTHER DUTIES. THOSE PLTS THEN TOOK OFF VFR AND PICKED UP THE IFR CLRNC IN THE AIR; WHICH MADE SATELLITE POS MORE DIFFICULT. MCI NEEDED 5; MAYBE 6; POS OPENED UP; BUT WERE UNABLE BECAUSE WE ONLY HAD 4 CTLRS. MGMNT ATTEMPTED TO BRING IN 1 FROM STAFFING; BUT THAT STILL MADE US 2 SHORT. THIS PROC IS NOT THE EXCEPTION ANYMORE; BUT THE NORM.

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.