Narrative:

I was forced to work the bermuda radar sector while the radar was out due to a radar failure with no training. The bermuda radar sector also got several new approach procedures that we were given approximately 10 mins of training on; a completely criminal amount of time; due to low staffing. Each controller now has a different take on how the approachs should be used. While working the sector over the past few days I am not sure if I or other controllers in my area had a separation error or airspace deviation because I am not sure of the separation standards and airspace. When I asked for clarification before the radar outage I was not given an answer how they have rerouted the majority of the traffic around the airspace because they do not know the proper standards themselves. We have been asking for training for yrs; and have not been given any. I shared my concerns with my supervisor; area manager; and facility chief on several occasions dating back many yrs and they have done nothing about it and each of them said they were aware of the problem and it was someone else who is to blame for the lack of training. This lack of accountability is a constant theme in our facility and responsible for the majority of the problems. We are in the middle of a comprehensive airspace change that we were not trained correctly for. The bermuda radar failed 1 day and we were told it wouldn't be back until at least 5 days later. I feel the risk of a mistake is huge considering you have over 30 controllers being forced to work the sector each working differently since none of them have been trained. I feel all controllers should be trained on the non-radar procedures and the new approach procedures so we all work the sector safely and consistently reducing the chance of error.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZNY CTLR VOICED CONCERN REGARDING REQUIRED NON RADAR APPLICATIONS; CITING LACK OF TRAINING AND RESULTING CONFUSED SEPARATION STANDARDS.

Narrative: I WAS FORCED TO WORK THE BERMUDA RADAR SECTOR WHILE THE RADAR WAS OUT DUE TO A RADAR FAILURE WITH NO TRAINING. THE BERMUDA RADAR SECTOR ALSO GOT SEVERAL NEW APCH PROCS THAT WE WERE GIVEN APPROX 10 MINS OF TRAINING ON; A COMPLETELY CRIMINAL AMOUNT OF TIME; DUE TO LOW STAFFING. EACH CTLR NOW HAS A DIFFERENT TAKE ON HOW THE APCHS SHOULD BE USED. WHILE WORKING THE SECTOR OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS I AM NOT SURE IF I OR OTHER CTLRS IN MY AREA HAD A SEPARATION ERROR OR AIRSPACE DEV BECAUSE I AM NOT SURE OF THE SEPARATION STANDARDS AND AIRSPACE. WHEN I ASKED FOR CLARIFICATION BEFORE THE RADAR OUTAGE I WAS NOT GIVEN AN ANSWER HOW THEY HAVE REROUTED THE MAJORITY OF THE TFC AROUND THE AIRSPACE BECAUSE THEY DO NOT KNOW THE PROPER STANDARDS THEMSELVES. WE HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR TRAINING FOR YRS; AND HAVE NOT BEEN GIVEN ANY. I SHARED MY CONCERNS WITH MY SUPVR; AREA MGR; AND FACILITY CHIEF ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS DATING BACK MANY YRS AND THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING ABOUT IT AND EACH OF THEM SAID THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROB AND IT WAS SOMEONE ELSE WHO IS TO BLAME FOR THE LACK OF TRAINING. THIS LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY IS A CONSTANT THEME IN OUR FACILITY AND RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE PROBS. WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A COMPREHENSIVE AIRSPACE CHANGE THAT WE WERE NOT TRAINED CORRECTLY FOR. THE BERMUDA RADAR FAILED 1 DAY AND WE WERE TOLD IT WOULDN'T BE BACK UNTIL AT LEAST 5 DAYS LATER. I FEEL THE RISK OF A MISTAKE IS HUGE CONSIDERING YOU HAVE OVER 30 CTLRS BEING FORCED TO WORK THE SECTOR EACH WORKING DIFFERENTLY SINCE NONE OF THEM HAVE BEEN TRAINED. I FEEL ALL CTLRS SHOULD BE TRAINED ON THE NON-RADAR PROCS AND THE NEW APCH PROCS SO WE ALL WORK THE SECTOR SAFELY AND CONSISTENTLY REDUCING THE CHANCE OF ERROR.

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.