ZBW controller expressed concern regarding the lack of approach control training provided reference ...

Narrative:

During midnight operations pvd approach closes down and its airspace is turned over to ZBW area C. In my 4 yrs at ZBW I have never been trained in the execution of the procedures for providence approach control. It is my understanding that a radar controller at pvd needs approximately 1 yr of training to certify on all radar position. However a ZBW controller is given the same amount of responsibility and expected to have the same level of knowledge without having any official training time. I have repeatedly asked for training specifically on the approach procedures for pvd as well as the other satellite airports they service. The FAA either refuses to administer this training or feels that there is no need for it because they have ignored my requests. With the upcoming controller shortage and shift assignments dictated by FAA management I may not be able to avoid working mid-shifts. So I will in essence be ordered to work pvd approach airspace without ever receiving any official training. In my opinion this is a dangerous situation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZBW CTLR EXPRESSED CONCERN REGARDING THE LACK OF APCH CTL TRAINING PROVIDED REF THE DELEGATION OF TRACON AIRSPACE TO THE CTR DURING VARIOUS PERIODS; IE; MID-SHIFTS.

Narrative: DURING MIDNIGHT OPS PVD APCH CLOSES DOWN AND ITS AIRSPACE IS TURNED OVER TO ZBW AREA C. IN MY 4 YRS AT ZBW I HAVE NEVER BEEN TRAINED IN THE EXECUTION OF THE PROCS FOR PROVIDENCE APCH CTL. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT A RADAR CTLR AT PVD NEEDS APPROX 1 YR OF TRAINING TO CERTIFY ON ALL RADAR POS. HOWEVER A ZBW CTLR IS GIVEN THE SAME AMOUNT OF RESPONSIBILITY AND EXPECTED TO HAVE THE SAME LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE WITHOUT HAVING ANY OFFICIAL TRAINING TIME. I HAVE REPEATEDLY ASKED FOR TRAINING SPECIFICALLY ON THE APCH PROCS FOR PVD AS WELL AS THE OTHER SATELLITE ARPTS THEY SVC. THE FAA EITHER REFUSES TO ADMINISTER THIS TRAINING OR FEELS THAT THERE IS NO NEED FOR IT BECAUSE THEY HAVE IGNORED MY REQUESTS. WITH THE UPCOMING CTLR SHORTAGE AND SHIFT ASSIGNMENTS DICTATED BY FAA MGMNT I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO AVOID WORKING MID-SHIFTS. SO I WILL IN ESSENCE BE ORDERED TO WORK PVD APCH AIRSPACE WITHOUT EVER RECEIVING ANY OFFICIAL TRAINING. IN MY OPINION THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION.

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.

Attributes
ACN	721185
Time
Date	200612
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : pvd.tracon
State Reference	RI
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller time certified in position1 : 4
ASRS Report	721185
Events
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	FAA
Primary Problem	FAA
Situations
ATC Facility	procedure or policy : zbw.artcc

ZBW controller expressed concern regarding the lack of approach control training provided reference the delegation of TRACON airspace to the center during various periods; ie; mid-shifts.