Narrative:

I took a hand off on a CRJ2 and in trail behind him a CRJ9. Both were showing speeds assigned and climbing to FL270 via ait (automated information transfer) procedures. Before the aircraft were transferred communications; a neighboring controller said he gave the CRJ9 normal speed and was stopping the front guy; the CRJ2 below the CRJ9. The coordination was accomplished verbally instead of on the line. I agreed and said I was turning the CRJ9 towards the VOR to help get the two aircraft separated faster. I then turned the CRJ9 to the VOR direct and also noticed the data block on the CRJ2 was changed to show an assigned altitude of FL240 while the CRJ9 was continuing to climb to FL270. I saw the conflict alert activate as the second aircraft was now much faster but assumed the CRJ2 was temporarily stopped below the CRJ9's climbing altitude. I then later noticed the CRJ2 was level at FL240 and the CRJ9 was only out of 242. I then was told I was actually talking to the CRJ2 which I didn't know or realize. I told the CRJ9 to expedite climb through FL250 and turned the CRJ2 to the north. I think separation may have been lost before the actions took effect. Ait procedures in my opinion are unsafe and caused aircraft that needed attention to be caught between controllers unsafely. I recommend ait be terminated center wide. Also; I personally have worked 9 shifts in 10 days and most of them were 10 hour days. This particular shift was also a 'quick turn' day shift. I really think I should have realized the CRJ2 was on my frequency and could have stopped the aircraft safely below. I recommend that action is taken to immediately stop the reckless and ill timed area consolidation plan that has started; people are tired.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Enroute Controller experienced a separation loss between two Air Carrier aircraft indicating the Automated Information Transfer (AIT) procedure in use and fatigue issues were contributing factors.

Narrative: I took a hand off on a CRJ2 and in trail behind him a CRJ9. Both were showing speeds assigned and climbing to FL270 via AIT (Automated Information Transfer) procedures. Before the aircraft were transferred communications; a neighboring Controller said he gave the CRJ9 normal speed and was stopping the front guy; the CRJ2 below the CRJ9. The coordination was accomplished verbally instead of on the line. I agreed and said I was turning the CRJ9 towards the VOR to help get the two aircraft separated faster. I then turned the CRJ9 to the VOR direct and also noticed the data block on the CRJ2 was changed to show an assigned altitude of FL240 while the CRJ9 was continuing to climb to FL270. I saw the Conflict Alert activate as the second aircraft was now much faster but assumed the CRJ2 was temporarily stopped below the CRJ9's climbing altitude. I then later noticed the CRJ2 was level at FL240 and the CRJ9 was only out of 242. I then was told I was actually talking to the CRJ2 which I didn't know or realize. I told the CRJ9 to expedite climb through FL250 and turned the CRJ2 to the north. I think separation may have been lost before the actions took effect. AIT procedures in my opinion are unsafe and caused aircraft that needed attention to be caught between controllers unsafely. I recommend AIT be terminated center wide. Also; I personally have worked 9 shifts in 10 days and most of them were 10 hour days. This particular shift was also a 'quick turn' day shift. I really think I should have realized the CRJ2 was on my frequency and could have stopped the aircraft safely below. I recommend that action is taken to immediately stop the reckless and ill timed area consolidation plan that has started; people are tired.

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.