Narrative:

I came to work to learn as I was taking the position that 7 to 8 balloons were transitioning the airspace. I was told that targets had been tracked in class a airspace and at lower altitudes. I was told that no contact information was available or what responsibility I had at the sector. I took over with one tracked target at 120 and another target in the proximity of st louis class B airspace. I asked the flm why their was not a briefing item on the situation since I was told the balloons had come from new mexico. One target was tracking on a major arrival and I advised numerous IFR aircraft of the balloon targets but could not verify the altitudes or direction. The safety of IFR aircraft was placed at risk because of a lack of communication or target verification of the balloon racers. I questioned the flm because of the lack of information prior to taking the position; the flm informed me that I could get information on the races web site; I asked how I could do that at the position! Failure to provide the flm/cpcs of ZKC information concerning a potential traffic hazard seems to be an on going issue at ZKC. The management team at ZKC does not provide the workforce relevant information in a timely manner.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZKC Controller voiced concern regarding the lack of information involving balloon activity in Class A and associated airspace; the reporter noting an on going concern regarding the lack of operational information.

Narrative: I came to work to learn as I was taking the position that 7 to 8 balloons were transitioning the airspace. I was told that targets had been tracked in Class A airspace and at lower altitudes. I was told that no contact information was available or what responsibility I had at the sector. I took over with one tracked target at 120 and another target in the proximity of St Louis Class B airspace. I asked the FLM why their was not a briefing item on the situation since I was told the balloons had come from New Mexico. One target was tracking on a major arrival and I advised numerous IFR aircraft of the balloon targets but could not verify the altitudes or direction. The safety of IFR aircraft was placed at risk because of a lack of communication or target verification of the balloon racers. I questioned the FLM because of the lack of information prior to taking the position; the FLM informed me that I could get information on the races web site; I asked how I could do that at the position! Failure to provide the FLM/CPCs of ZKC information concerning a potential traffic hazard seems to be an on going issue at ZKC. The management team at ZKC does not provide the workforce relevant information in a timely manner.

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.