ZTL controller expressed concern regarding staffing numbers and policies.

Attributes
ACN	720214
Time
Date	200612
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ztl.artcc
State Reference	GA
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar controller : military controller : non radar pilot : instrument
Experience	controller limited radar : 10 controller military : 4 controller non radar : 5 controller radar : 15 controller supervisory : 2 controller time certified in position1 : 1 flight time total : 600
ASRS Report	720214
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:

Not just myself but almost all of the controllers that work in area seven at the ZTL arc required to work in excess of 2 hours per each plug in session. On occasion this would be no problem but this is becoming a normal operation due to lack of staffing and bad management decisions. The fatigue that sets in on a controller after an hour to an hour and a half at the busiest center in the country and possibly the world does not promote safety. It seems as if the agency sets a standard to meet only when it suits the agency. For instance; they will not approve spot leave if the staffing numbers aren't to be a certain number; but they will not call in overtime to get the staffing to that number either. Another instance is when we are forced to work an evening shift with only 7 fpl's when the required number is 14. This is not on a day of reduced traffic; but yet another full traffic day.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZTL CTLR EXPRESSED CONCERN REGARDING STAFFING NUMBERS AND POLICIES.

Narrative: NOT JUST MYSELF BUT ALMOST ALL OF THE CTLRS THAT WORK IN AREA SEVEN AT THE ZTL ARC REQUIRED TO WORK IN EXCESS OF 2 HRS PER EACH PLUG IN SESSION. ON OCCASION THIS WOULD BE NO PROB BUT THIS IS BECOMING A NORMAL OP DUE TO LACK OF STAFFING AND BAD MGMNT DECISIONS. THE FATIGUE THAT SETS IN ON A CTLR AFTER AN HR TO AN HR AND A HALF AT THE BUSIEST CTR IN THE COUNTRY AND POSSIBLY THE WORLD DOES NOT PROMOTE SAFETY. IT SEEMS AS IF THE AGENCY SETS A STANDARD TO MEET ONLY WHEN IT SUITS THE AGENCY. FOR INSTANCE; THEY WILL NOT APPROVE SPOT LEAVE IF THE STAFFING NUMBERS AREN'T TO BE A CERTAIN NUMBER; BUT THEY WILL NOT CALL IN OVERTIME TO GET THE STAFFING TO THAT NUMBER EITHER. ANOTHER INSTANCE IS WHEN WE ARE FORCED TO WORK AN EVENING SHIFT WITH ONLY 7 FPL'S WHEN THE REQUIRED NUMBER IS 14. THIS IS NOT ON A DAY OF REDUCED TFC; BUT YET ANOTHER FULL TFC DAY.

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.