Narrative:

We had too few controllers working the area during the morning hours; and a new cpc was working 2 position; sectors 53 and 36; combined without a radar associate. He was busy and the position should have been split earlier; but there were not enough people. Finally; after the supervisor paced behind the controller nervously for a few mins; he took the controller working the radar associate position on sector 48 (which always has a radar associate staffed during the day); and moved him to open sector 36. As a result; sector 48 was run without a radar associate until more controllers showed up later in the shift. In addition; there were controllers assigned to work earlier; that had requested earlier shifts; and were denied; even though staffing was adequate to approve the request.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZFW CTLR VOICED CONCERN REGARDING CURRENT STAFFING AT THE FAC AS WELL AS SHIFT DISTRIBUTION OF SAME.

Narrative: WE HAD TOO FEW CTLRS WORKING THE AREA DURING THE MORNING HRS; AND A NEW CPC WAS WORKING 2 POS; SECTORS 53 AND 36; COMBINED WITHOUT A RADAR ASSOCIATE. HE WAS BUSY AND THE POS SHOULD HAVE BEEN SPLIT EARLIER; BUT THERE WERE NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE. FINALLY; AFTER THE SUPVR PACED BEHIND THE CTLR NERVOUSLY FOR A FEW MINS; HE TOOK THE CTLR WORKING THE RADAR ASSOCIATE POS ON SECTOR 48 (WHICH ALWAYS HAS A RADAR ASSOCIATE STAFFED DURING THE DAY); AND MOVED HIM TO OPEN SECTOR 36. AS A RESULT; SECTOR 48 WAS RUN WITHOUT A RADAR ASSOCIATE UNTIL MORE CTLRS SHOWED UP LATER IN THE SHIFT. IN ADDITION; THERE WERE CTLRS ASSIGNED TO WORK EARLIER; THAT HAD REQUESTED EARLIER SHIFTS; AND WERE DENIED; EVEN THOUGH STAFFING WAS ADEQUATE TO APPROVE THE REQUEST.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 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.