Reporter claims that a particular sector at ZAU is critically staffed.

Attributes
ACN	402520
Time
Date	199805
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zau airport : ord
State Reference	IL
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Light	Night
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller military : 4 controller non radar : 12 controller radar : 12
ASRS Report	402520
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	oversight : supervisor
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
ATC Facility	other physical facility procedure or policy : unspecified

Narrative:

This is a recurring problem. The south area at ZAU is critically staffed. This is the second time in a month that a supervisor has had to abandon his post as supervisor to man a control position. The staffing issue has been brought to the attention of ZAU management. Traffic is increasing and the controller work force has been stagnant as far as hiring is concerned. The evening of the may/xa/98 had WX and extra help was needed. The bvt sector in particular needed assistance and none was available.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: RPTR CLAIMS THAT A PARTICULAR SECTOR AT ZAU IS CRITICALLY STAFFED.

Narrative: THIS IS A RECURRING PROB. THE S AREA AT ZAU IS CRITICALLY STAFFED. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN A MONTH THAT A SUPVR HAS HAD TO ABANDON HIS POST AS SUPVR TO MAN A CTL POS. THE STAFFING ISSUE HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO THE ATTN OF ZAU MGMNT. TFC IS INCREASING AND THE CTLR WORK FORCE HAS BEEN STAGNANT AS FAR AS HIRING IS CONCERNED. THE EVENING OF THE MAY/XA/98 HAD WX AND EXTRA HELP WAS NEEDED. THE BVT SECTOR IN PARTICULAR NEEDED ASSISTANCE AND NONE WAS AVAILABLE.

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.