ZTL controller expressed concern regarding the facility's policy on mid-shift staffing.

Attributes
ACN	715806
Time
Date	200611
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ztl.artcc
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 24000 msl bound upper : 43000
Environment
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : cle.tower
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 22 controller time certified in position1 : 2
ASRS Report	715806
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	FAA
Primary Problem	FAA
Situations
ATC Facility	staffing : ztl.artcc

Narrative:

We are required to work 2 person mid-shifts in area 7 with no early shifts or early 'flex' available. I worked tonight (and every mid) for approximately 6 hours 45 mins with only bathroom breaks. We are required to work heavy traffic with no help or relief. This is an unsafe situation that we are forced into -- with no chance for help. On a normal day or evening shift; we would never work moderate to heavy traffic like that on the mid-shift mornings; with no help. The other controller scheduled on the mid-shift works the low altitude sector and has their own responsibilities and cannot assist with high side traffic. Prior to this current period; we had a shift that would come in to help and we used to (back in june or july) have 3 person mid-shifts which is ideal for this traffic. Again; this is extremely unsafe and we have no way out. Also note; on day and evening shifts; traffic counts like this requires a d-side and a tracker. Complaints to management are completely ignored and disregarded.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZTL CTLR EXPRESSED CONCERN REGARDING THE FACILITY'S POLICY ON MID-SHIFT STAFFING.

Narrative: WE ARE REQUIRED TO WORK 2 PERSON MID-SHIFTS IN AREA 7 WITH NO EARLY SHIFTS OR EARLY 'FLEX' AVAILABLE. I WORKED TONIGHT (AND EVERY MID) FOR APPROX 6 HRS 45 MINS WITH ONLY BATHROOM BREAKS. WE ARE REQUIRED TO WORK HVY TFC WITH NO HELP OR RELIEF. THIS IS AN UNSAFE SITUATION THAT WE ARE FORCED INTO -- WITH NO CHANCE FOR HELP. ON A NORMAL DAY OR EVENING SHIFT; WE WOULD NEVER WORK MODERATE TO HVY TFC LIKE THAT ON THE MID-SHIFT MORNINGS; WITH NO HELP. THE OTHER CTLR SCHEDULED ON THE MID-SHIFT WORKS THE LOW ALT SECTOR AND HAS THEIR OWN RESPONSIBILITIES AND CANNOT ASSIST WITH HIGH SIDE TFC. PRIOR TO THIS CURRENT PERIOD; WE HAD A SHIFT THAT WOULD COME IN TO HELP AND WE USED TO (BACK IN JUNE OR JULY) HAVE 3 PERSON MID-SHIFTS WHICH IS IDEAL FOR THIS TFC. AGAIN; THIS IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE AND WE HAVE NO WAY OUT. ALSO NOTE; ON DAY AND EVENING SHIFTS; TFC COUNTS LIKE THIS REQUIRES A D-SIDE AND A TRACKER. COMPLAINTS TO MGMNT ARE COMPLETELY IGNORED AND DISREGARDED.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.