Narrative:

'Watrs plus' becomes operational in jun/08. The training that they are providing to the ATC controllers; in my opinion; is not enough. My concerns are: training plan -- 2 hours to learn the new map and 2 hours to draw it. There are 14 new rtes with 73 fixes. In 2 hours it is impossible to learn all of them. Training plan -- 1 month before the implementation; the controllers will have from 3-4 hours to redraw the map; learn all about fix posting; the rnp requirements; separation standards; learn about WX deviations; loss of rnp while on flight; micro-earts map changes and the transition plan. Training plan -- 2 weeks before the implementation; en route controllers will train with 2 radar and 2 non-radar exercise problems. No part of the training plan will be pass or fail. Another concern that I have is that many of the new fixes are related to spanish words and the pronunciation from controller to pilot or pilot to controller will lead to confusion. Most of them will have to be spelled out. For examples; fixes like: zabor; qnepa; yiyyo; prcha; eteee; rafee; and mnolo. There is also 2 fixes located next to each other on different airways that can lead to confusion since the first 3 letters are equal and the fourth are similar: hardy on A555 (mia to sju) and harbg on L452 (mia to sju).

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZSU CTLR VOICED CONCERN REGARDING FACILITY TRAINING PLAN FOR NEW PROC; ADDING; PROPOSED SIMILAR SOUNDING FIX NAMES THAT COULD BE PROBLEMATIC.

Narrative: 'WATRS PLUS' BECOMES OPERATIONAL IN JUN/08. THE TRAINING THAT THEY ARE PROVIDING TO THE ATC CTLRS; IN MY OPINION; IS NOT ENOUGH. MY CONCERNS ARE: TRAINING PLAN -- 2 HRS TO LEARN THE NEW MAP AND 2 HRS TO DRAW IT. THERE ARE 14 NEW RTES WITH 73 FIXES. IN 2 HRS IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO LEARN ALL OF THEM. TRAINING PLAN -- 1 MONTH BEFORE THE IMPLEMENTATION; THE CTLRS WILL HAVE FROM 3-4 HRS TO REDRAW THE MAP; LEARN ALL ABOUT FIX POSTING; THE RNP REQUIREMENTS; SEPARATION STANDARDS; LEARN ABOUT WX DEVS; LOSS OF RNP WHILE ON FLT; MICRO-EARTS MAP CHANGES AND THE TRANSITION PLAN. TRAINING PLAN -- 2 WKS BEFORE THE IMPLEMENTATION; ENRTE CTLRS WILL TRAIN WITH 2 RADAR AND 2 NON-RADAR EXERCISE PROBS. NO PART OF THE TRAINING PLAN WILL BE PASS OR FAIL. ANOTHER CONCERN THAT I HAVE IS THAT MANY OF THE NEW FIXES ARE RELATED TO SPANISH WORDS AND THE PRONUNCIATION FROM CTLR TO PLT OR PLT TO CTLR WILL LEAD TO CONFUSION. MOST OF THEM WILL HAVE TO BE SPELLED OUT. FOR EXAMPLES; FIXES LIKE: ZABOR; QNEPA; YIYYO; PRCHA; ETEEE; RAFEE; AND MNOLO. THERE IS ALSO 2 FIXES LOCATED NEXT TO EACH OTHER ON DIFFERENT AIRWAYS THAT CAN LEAD TO CONFUSION SINCE THE FIRST 3 LETTERS ARE EQUAL AND THE FOURTH ARE SIMILAR: HARDY ON A555 (MIA TO SJU) AND HARBG ON L452 (MIA TO SJU).

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.