Narrative:

I was training a developmental in combined sectors R1/R5. At the moment we took the position; there was not high volume of traffic or complex situations. While we were working; two different situations occurred simultaneously; one in R1 and the other in R5. There was a foreign aircraft; a SW4; calling us for traffic advisories. I was scanning and called the supervisor to notify him/her about an aircraft I saw at 040 and climbing north of sju tower. R1 has an area depicted for parachute activities and at the time it was active. A C182 called for traffic advisories with jumpers on board. The pilot was climbing out of 027 ft for 095. Though this area is depicted; there's nothing in writing saying that we have to show the area depicted at all times; is more a visual aid for the controllers. The area is a circle that is mostly in our airspace; but overlies a little in sju center airspace. I have to mention that; because it's only a visual aid; the pilot climbs more or less in that area depicted. Approach controllers use the depicted area on the radar displays; the center does not. We kept working; the volume of traffic and the complexity increasing. Sju tower called to advise the SW4 was a possible pilot deviation; while the trainee was trying to contact the pilot; we had multiple frequencies combined; traffic was increasing with the trainee trying a couple of times to contact this pilot with no luck. I 'jumped' onto the frequency and advised the pilot of the possible pilot deviation and in the mean time there was an AT72 at 070 entering west of the 'jumping area' direct sju without being coordinated with us; while the C182 was climbing out of 070. The supervisor was right next to us; because we were dealing with the pilot deviation; when the supervisor advised me about the situation on the west. I turned the AT72 and issue traffic; he told me looking; but in seconds said 'I have the traffic in sight' right away I advise the AT72; but at the same time the AT72 was advising us that was following an RA; and was descending. We issued a point out to the center; because the C182 was inside our airspace at the moment. Another supervisor came to listen to the tapes; when he noticed the sectors were combined; it sounds [like] you were busy? I asked the same thing. I told him at the beginning was not busy. Solutions: 1. I suggest to have the areas depicted. 2. If the supervisor is aware of activity in the parachute area; they advise the center immediately. I know I did not point out the aircraft to the center. 3. Communication; between center and approach has to improve; as well as the supervisors to the controllers. The area that is used for jumpers is very complex because it is an inbound gate for us. It's dangerous and not safe. We have passed that information but nothing has been done with this situation. If they are going to jump there; is a must to have a letter of agreement. 5. The supervisors have to monitor the sector and know when to split it.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZSU Controller expressed concern regarding local parachute activities; the lack of jump area RADAR display depictions; failed internal and external coordination efforts and formal operational direction/s.

Narrative: I was training a developmental in combined Sectors R1/R5. At the moment we took the position; there was not high volume of traffic or complex situations. While we were working; two different situations occurred simultaneously; one in R1 and the other in R5. There was a foreign aircraft; a SW4; calling us for traffic advisories. I was scanning and called the supervisor to notify him/her about an aircraft I saw at 040 and climbing north of SJU Tower. R1 has an area depicted for parachute activities and at the time it was active. A C182 called for traffic advisories with jumpers on board. The pilot was climbing out of 027 FT for 095. Though this area is depicted; there's nothing in writing saying that we have to show the area depicted at all times; is more a visual aid for the controllers. The area is a circle that is mostly in our airspace; but overlies a little in SJU Center airspace. I have to mention that; because it's only a visual aid; the pilot climbs more or less in that area depicted. Approach controllers use the depicted area on the RADAR displays; the Center does not. We kept working; the volume of traffic and the complexity increasing. SJU Tower called to advise the SW4 was a possible pilot deviation; while the trainee was trying to contact the pilot; we had multiple frequencies combined; traffic was increasing with the trainee trying a couple of times to contact this pilot with no luck. I 'jumped' onto the frequency and advised the pilot of the possible pilot deviation and in the mean time there was an AT72 at 070 entering west of the 'jumping area' direct SJU without being coordinated with us; while the C182 was climbing out of 070. The supervisor was right next to us; because we were dealing with the pilot deviation; when the supervisor advised me about the situation on the west. I turned the AT72 and issue traffic; he told me looking; but in seconds said 'I have the traffic in sight' right away I advise the AT72; but at the same time the AT72 was advising us that was following an RA; and was descending. We issued a point out to the Center; because the C182 was inside our airspace at the moment. Another supervisor came to listen to the tapes; when he noticed the sectors were combined; it sounds [like] you were busy? I asked the same thing. I told him at the beginning was not busy. Solutions: 1. I suggest to have the areas depicted. 2. If the supervisor is aware of activity in the parachute area; they advise the Center immediately. I know I did not point out the aircraft to the Center. 3. Communication; between Center and Approach has to improve; as well as the supervisors to the controllers. The area that is used for jumpers is very complex because it is an inbound gate for us. It's dangerous and not safe. We have passed that information but nothing has been done with this situation. If they are going to jump there; is a must to have a letter of agreement. 5. The supervisors have to monitor the sector and know when to split it.

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.