ZSE controller expressed concern regarding rarely used combined sector/airspace operation; initiated...

Attributes
ACN	812429
Time
Date	200811
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zse.airport
State Reference	WA
Environment
Weather Elements	Windshear Ice Turbulence
Light	Night
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller time certified in position1 : 20
ASRS Report	812429
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 : zse.artcc

Narrative:

I was told to work D18. Sectors 9 and 18 were combined. I was told we were to assume chinook approach airspace so that eram testing could be done. The towers at psc; ykm; PDT; and alw were open. It has been yrs since I have worked the airspace in this confign. I expressed concern that this was not a good idea due to poor WX. I was told I could move and management would get someone else. I stayed since the younger controllers have never worked the airspace like this and I had. There was no briefing on coordination with the towers. No LOA that covers this. We had reports of moderate to severe ice. Moderate turbulence and LLWS at night. The addition of 6-7 people in the area to do the 'test' was a distraction due to noise. At one time I put my finger in my ear to block it out.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZSE CONTROLLER EXPRESSED CONCERN REGARDING RARELY USED COMBINED SECTOR/AIRSPACE OPERATION; INITIATED ONLY TO TEST EQUIPMENT; ALLEGING WEATHER AND LACK OF PROCEDURES RESULTED IN AN UNSAFE OPERATION.

Narrative: I WAS TOLD TO WORK D18. SECTORS 9 AND 18 WERE COMBINED. I WAS TOLD WE WERE TO ASSUME CHINOOK APCH AIRSPACE SO THAT ERAM TESTING COULD BE DONE. THE TWRS AT PSC; YKM; PDT; AND ALW WERE OPEN. IT HAS BEEN YRS SINCE I HAVE WORKED THE AIRSPACE IN THIS CONFIGN. I EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT THIS WAS NOT A GOOD IDEA DUE TO POOR WX. I WAS TOLD I COULD MOVE AND MGMNT WOULD GET SOMEONE ELSE. I STAYED SINCE THE YOUNGER CTLRS HAVE NEVER WORKED THE AIRSPACE LIKE THIS AND I HAD. THERE WAS NO BRIEFING ON COORD WITH THE TWRS. NO LOA THAT COVERS THIS. WE HAD RPTS OF MODERATE TO SEVERE ICE. MODERATE TURB AND LLWS AT NIGHT. THE ADDITION OF 6-7 PEOPLE IN THE AREA TO DO THE 'TEST' WAS A DISTR DUE TO NOISE. AT ONE TIME I PUT MY FINGER IN MY EAR TO BLOCK IT OUT.

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.

ZSE controller expressed concern regarding rarely used combined sector/airspace operation; initiated only to test equipment; alleging weather and lack of procedures resulted in an unsafe operation.