ZME controller described unexpected takeover of bna airspace with no training and operations plan.

Attributes
ACN	753188
Time
Date	200709
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zme.artcc
State Reference	TN
Environment
Light	Night
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller military : 3 controller radar : 22 controller time certified in position1 : 15
ASRS Report	753188
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	FAA
Primary Problem	FAA
Situations
ATC Facility	procedure or policy : zme.artcc staffing : zme.artcc

Narrative:

I was working low altitude sector (3 low altitude sectors combo). This sector overlies nashville approach airspace. At about XA30 I was told by the supervisor that bna was going down to 1 controller because of an emergency (no personnel) and I would assume bna airspace. This has never happened before; nor has anyone at ZME has been trained on the procedures for working inside bna's airspace. We looked everywhere for the contingency plan for nashville approach airspace; in hopes of finding some guidance; we could not find any. That's because; there is no contingency plan for nashville approach airspace! It should be noted that ZME area 5 has been understaffed on these shifts since jan/xa/07. We are now staffed with only 3 controllers on these shifts as opposed to our normal 4 controllers prior to 2007. We are now being tasked to potentially work more airspace (if bna goes ATC zero); with less controller staffing. This on top of the fact there is no contingency plan for nashville approach airspace. It should also be noted no ZME controllers have ever been briefed nor trained on the airspace inside bna.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZME CTLR DESCRIBED UNEXPECTED TAKEOVER OF BNA AIRSPACE WITH NO TRAINING AND OPS PLAN.

Narrative: I WAS WORKING LOW ALT SECTOR (3 LOW ALT SECTORS COMBO). THIS SECTOR OVERLIES NASHVILLE APCH AIRSPACE. AT ABOUT XA30 I WAS TOLD BY THE SUPVR THAT BNA WAS GOING DOWN TO 1 CTLR BECAUSE OF AN EMER (NO PERSONNEL) AND I WOULD ASSUME BNA AIRSPACE. THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE; NOR HAS ANYONE AT ZME HAS BEEN TRAINED ON THE PROCS FOR WORKING INSIDE BNA'S AIRSPACE. WE LOOKED EVERYWHERE FOR THE CONTINGENCY PLAN FOR NASHVILLE APCH AIRSPACE; IN HOPES OF FINDING SOME GUIDANCE; WE COULD NOT FIND ANY. THAT'S BECAUSE; THERE IS NO CONTINGENCY PLAN FOR NASHVILLE APCH AIRSPACE! IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT ZME AREA 5 HAS BEEN UNDERSTAFFED ON THESE SHIFTS SINCE JAN/XA/07. WE ARE NOW STAFFED WITH ONLY 3 CTLRS ON THESE SHIFTS AS OPPOSED TO OUR NORMAL 4 CTLRS PRIOR TO 2007. WE ARE NOW BEING TASKED TO POTENTIALLY WORK MORE AIRSPACE (IF BNA GOES ATC ZERO); WITH LESS CTLR STAFFING. THIS ON TOP OF THE FACT THERE IS NO CONTINGENCY PLAN FOR NASHVILLE APCH AIRSPACE. IT SHOULD ALSO BE NOTED NO ZME CTLRS HAVE EVER BEEN BRIEFED NOR TRAINED ON THE AIRSPACE INSIDE BNA.

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.