ATC staffing problem led to inadequate ATC service.

Attributes
ACN	317939
Time
Date	199510
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zny
State Reference	NY
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny tower : dab
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller non radar : 7 controller radar : 4
ASRS Report	317939
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	oversight : supervisor
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Due to inadequate staffing during the above shift, many aircraft were denied optimum altitudes during the cruise portion of their flts. The staffing levels in ny ARTCC area are 12 controllers per shift. This shift started with 10 ATC's, 1 of which was assigned to take training on a sector which he was not certified on. This brought the staffing to 9 ATC's. As a result, sectors were combined causing controllers to be overworked and unable to answer pilot requests. Many aircraft were left at FL280 and FL290 for their entire flight across the atlantic, causing many pilots to express concern about possible fuel problems.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATC STAFFING PROB LED TO INADEQUATE ATC SVC.

Narrative: DUE TO INADEQUATE STAFFING DURING THE ABOVE SHIFT, MANY ACFT WERE DENIED OPTIMUM ALTS DURING THE CRUISE PORTION OF THEIR FLTS. THE STAFFING LEVELS IN NY ARTCC AREA ARE 12 CTLRS PER SHIFT. THIS SHIFT STARTED WITH 10 ATC'S, 1 OF WHICH WAS ASSIGNED TO TAKE TRAINING ON A SECTOR WHICH HE WAS NOT CERTIFIED ON. THIS BROUGHT THE STAFFING TO 9 ATC'S. AS A RESULT, SECTORS WERE COMBINED CAUSING CTLRS TO BE OVERWORKED AND UNABLE TO ANSWER PLT REQUESTS. MANY ACFT WERE LEFT AT FL280 AND FL290 FOR THEIR ENTIRE FLT ACROSS THE ATLANTIC, CAUSING MANY PLTS TO EXPRESS CONCERN ABOUT POSSIBLE FUEL PROBS.

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.