Narrative:

For several yrs I have noted that on wkends, FAA air traffic controllers work 2 (and sometimes more) position simultaneously. This practice occurs at all sizes of facilities, from small VFR airports to major hubs like msp and dtw and the en route ctrs. I suspect that the program dates back to the days when demand for IFR services was significantly lower on wkends than on wkdays. In part, no doubt, because most airlines ran reduced schedules on wkends (and holidays). Unfortunately, those days are long behind us. Today, with the airlines maintenance virtually the same schedules 7 days a week and GA activity at least as heavy, if not heavier, on wkends as on wkdays, it is almost impossible to believe that the overall workload is down on wkends. It certainly is not down enough to justify continuing the practice of having controllers 'double up' at major airports and in en route center facilities. In the last few months, I have witnessed several incidents which could have become quite serious had not third parties intervened. All of these positional accidents involved heavy radio traffic, similar sounding call signs, and ATC facilities manned by controllers working 2 (or more) stations who missed improper clearance readbacks and were too busy to answer calls for further clarification. A non inclusive list of facilities involved includes msp, dtw, and cvg ground control, msp, ord, cle, and iad ARTCC's, and msp tower. I am sure any professional pilot could add to this list without any great effort. I don't know how much pull you folks have in these matters, but I think it is past time for you to suggest to the FAA that it is time to discontinue this practice before it results in a major accident. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter stated his main concern about combined position of operation was the use of 2 frequencys instead of the frequency at the position the traffic is being worked. Analyst explained reason for combined position. Reporter said flcs are unable to stay situationally aware when traffic is on 2 separate frequencys.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FREQ CONGESTION DUE TO COMBINED POS OF OP.

Narrative: FOR SEVERAL YRS I HAVE NOTED THAT ON WKENDS, FAA AIR TFC CTLRS WORK 2 (AND SOMETIMES MORE) POS SIMULTANEOUSLY. THIS PRACTICE OCCURS AT ALL SIZES OF FACILITIES, FROM SMALL VFR ARPTS TO MAJOR HUBS LIKE MSP AND DTW AND THE ENRTE CTRS. I SUSPECT THAT THE PROGRAM DATES BACK TO THE DAYS WHEN DEMAND FOR IFR SVCS WAS SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER ON WKENDS THAN ON WKDAYS. IN PART, NO DOUBT, BECAUSE MOST AIRLINES RAN REDUCED SCHEDULES ON WKENDS (AND HOLIDAYS). UNFORTUNATELY, THOSE DAYS ARE LONG BEHIND US. TODAY, WITH THE AIRLINES MAINT VIRTUALLY THE SAME SCHEDULES 7 DAYS A WK AND GA ACTIVITY AT LEAST AS HVY, IF NOT HEAVIER, ON WKENDS AS ON WKDAYS, IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO BELIEVE THAT THE OVERALL WORKLOAD IS DOWN ON WKENDS. IT CERTAINLY IS NOT DOWN ENOUGH TO JUSTIFY CONTINUING THE PRACTICE OF HAVING CTLRS 'DOUBLE UP' AT MAJOR ARPTS AND IN ENRTE CTR FACILITIES. IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS, I HAVE WITNESSED SEVERAL INCIDENTS WHICH COULD HAVE BECOME QUITE SERIOUS HAD NOT THIRD PARTIES INTERVENED. ALL OF THESE POSITIONAL ACCIDENTS INVOLVED HVY RADIO TFC, SIMILAR SOUNDING CALL SIGNS, AND ATC FACILITIES MANNED BY CTLRS WORKING 2 (OR MORE) STATIONS WHO MISSED IMPROPER CLRNC READBACKS AND WERE TOO BUSY TO ANSWER CALLS FOR FURTHER CLARIFICATION. A NON INCLUSIVE LIST OF FACILITIES INVOLVED INCLUDES MSP, DTW, AND CVG GND CTL, MSP, ORD, CLE, AND IAD ARTCC'S, AND MSP TWR. I AM SURE ANY PROFESSIONAL PLT COULD ADD TO THIS LIST WITHOUT ANY GREAT EFFORT. I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH PULL YOU FOLKS HAVE IN THESE MATTERS, BUT I THINK IT IS PAST TIME FOR YOU TO SUGGEST TO THE FAA THAT IT IS TIME TO DISCONTINUE THIS PRACTICE BEFORE IT RESULTS IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATED HIS MAIN CONCERN ABOUT COMBINED POS OF OP WAS THE USE OF 2 FREQS INSTEAD OF THE FREQ AT THE POS THE TFC IS BEING WORKED. ANALYST EXPLAINED REASON FOR COMBINED POS. RPTR SAID FLCS ARE UNABLE TO STAY SITUATIONALLY AWARE WHEN TFC IS ON 2 SEPARATE FREQS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.