I90 controller experienced a loss of separation between an arrival and departure when both aircraft ...

Narrative:

While working several departing aircraft on the I90 departure south position; many of them deviating around areas of weather; I had issued a heading of 060 and a climb to 16;000 feet to aircraft X once it had passed an iah arrival. At approx XA20Z the flm came over to me to ensure I saw a deviating arrival; aircraft Y level at 6;000 and approximately 6 miles southeast of my traffic heading north. I observed aircraft X to be leaving approximately 5;400 feet; so I believe I issued a turn to 360 degrees and immediate descent to 5;000 feet. These may not have been in the same transmission. The pilot of aircraft X acknowledged. I looked at other traffic; then right back to aircraft X; and saw that he was still in a climb out of approximately 6;500; so I told him to continue climb; and expedite out of 7;000. Again the pilot acknowledged. At this point the aircraft seemed to be about 3 miles from each other and the aircraft Y jet was turning westerly. Aircraft X then started descending again instead of climbing and so I had him expedite to 5000. Recommendation; ensure adequate staffing exists to provide either a position coordinator or controller to open the east departure sector during periods of bad weather. This is usually done here but there were not enough controllers available at the time.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: I90 Controller experienced a loss of separation between an arrival and departure when both aircraft were in weather deviation maneuvers and response to instructions were slow. Lack of staffing was listed as a causal factor.

Narrative: While working several departing aircraft on the I90 Departure South position; many of them deviating around areas of weather; I had issued a heading of 060 and a climb to 16;000 feet to Aircraft X once it had passed an IAH arrival. At approx XA20Z the FLM came over to me to ensure I saw a deviating arrival; Aircraft Y level at 6;000 and approximately 6 miles southeast of my traffic heading north. I observed Aircraft X to be leaving approximately 5;400 feet; so I believe I issued a turn to 360 degrees and immediate descent to 5;000 feet. These may not have been in the same transmission. The pilot of Aircraft X acknowledged. I looked at other traffic; then right back to Aircraft X; and saw that he was still in a climb out of approximately 6;500; so I told him to continue climb; and expedite out of 7;000. Again the pilot acknowledged. At this point the aircraft seemed to be about 3 miles from each other and the Aircraft Y jet was turning westerly. Aircraft X then started descending again instead of climbing and so I had him expedite to 5000. Recommendation; ensure adequate staffing exists to provide either a position coordinator or controller to open the East departure sector during periods of bad weather. This is usually done here but there were not enough controllers available at the time.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.

Attributes
ACN	865788
Time
Date	200912
Local Time Of Day	0001-0600
Place
Locale Reference	I90.TRACON
State Reference	TX
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Medium Transport Low Wing 2 Turbojet Eng
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Initial Climb
Route In Use	Vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Large Transport Low Wing 2 Turbojet Eng
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Final Approach
Route In Use	Vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Departure Approach
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Events
Anomaly	Airspace Violation All Types Conflict Airborne Conflict Deviation - Track / Heading All Types Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence

I90 controller experienced a loss of separation between an arrival and departure when both aircraft were in weather deviation maneuvers and response to instructions were slow. Lack of staffing was listed as a causal factor.