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ZMP center controller reported an airspace deviation while working combined sectors. Covid-19 staffing levels contributed to the event.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1749718 |
| Time | |
| Date | 202007 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801-2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZMP.ARTCC |
| State Reference | NM |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | Commercial Fixed Wing |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | Climb |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Enroute Trainee |
| Qualification | Air Traffic Control Developmental |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | ATC Issue All Types Airspace Violation All Types Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy |
Narrative:
Aircraft X was climbing southbound after departing; I initiated a handoff to sector xy; anticipating a flash-through to sector yx. I anticipated watching for the handoff to be made; and made a pointout to oma approach. While this was going on; I had multiple aircraft needing weather calls in other parts of the airspace; as well as at least two calls from flight data and flight service; as well as two calls from aircraft airborne off of airports beginning IFR flights. By the time all these had been dealt with; I had failed to get back quickly enough to aircraft X; and he had entered sector xy's airspace without them accepting the handoff. I then called them with a verbal handoff and they accepted the automated handoff.given the weather situation; I think having all three low sectors open with the need to provide weather reports in the northeast part of the airspace; given the volume; was probably not appropriate. We have been running thin crews do to covid-19; and thus have been keeping sectors combined when they likely would have been split during normal operations. I think this added volume and complexity contributed to this airspace violation. In the future; as more controllers return; I think it would be better to split sectors off more quickly to reduce workload.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: ZMP Center Controller reported an airspace deviation while working combined sectors. COVID-19 staffing levels contributed to the event.
Narrative: Aircraft X was climbing southbound after departing; I initiated a handoff to Sector XY; anticipating a flash-through to Sector YX. I anticipated watching for the handoff to be made; and made a pointout to OMA approach. While this was going on; I had multiple aircraft needing weather calls in other parts of the airspace; as well as at least two calls from flight data and flight service; as well as two calls from aircraft airborne off of airports beginning IFR flights. By the time all these had been dealt with; I had failed to get back quickly enough to Aircraft X; and he had entered Sector XY's airspace without them accepting the handoff. I then called them with a verbal handoff and they accepted the automated handoff.Given the weather situation; I think having all three low sectors open with the need to provide weather reports in the northeast part of the airspace; given the volume; was probably not appropriate. We have been running thin crews do to COVID-19; and thus have been keeping sectors combined when they likely would have been split during normal operations. I think this added volume and complexity contributed to this airspace violation. In the future; as more controllers return; I think it would be better to split sectors off more quickly to reduce workload.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.