Narrative:

Aircraft #1 was descended to FL220 from FL240 to enter my airspace (at and below FL230). Aircraft #2 at FL220 entered my airspace approximately 2 mins later. At the time of the incident there were approximately 22 aircraft on frequencys and 28 data blocks on scope. By the time that I noticed the problem and took action; it was too late. I was working a sector that used to be 2 sectors; with a manual controller helping. In the past; there was an opportunity to split the sectors off; but not any more. As of 2 months ago; management at ZAU decided to decommission the second sector leaving the controllers to watch a larger sector needing 3 frequencys for coverage. The decommissioning went against any and all input from the controllers working the airspace. Management doesn't work the airspace; the controllers do; and their input should not be disregarded. The frequency congestion and additional airspace is a very serious accident waiting to happen! All of this is happening with 5 to 6 less controllers per shift than 2 yrs ago.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZAU CTLR EXPERIENCED OPERROR AT FL220 WHEN FAILING TO SEE CONFLICTING TFC; CITING TFC VOLUME AND AIRSPACE/SECTOR CHANGES AS CONTRIBUTORY.

Narrative: ACFT #1 WAS DSNDED TO FL220 FROM FL240 TO ENTER MY AIRSPACE (AT AND BELOW FL230). ACFT #2 AT FL220 ENTERED MY AIRSPACE APPROX 2 MINS LATER. AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT THERE WERE APPROX 22 ACFT ON FREQS AND 28 DATA BLOCKS ON SCOPE. BY THE TIME THAT I NOTICED THE PROB AND TOOK ACTION; IT WAS TOO LATE. I WAS WORKING A SECTOR THAT USED TO BE 2 SECTORS; WITH A MANUAL CTLR HELPING. IN THE PAST; THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPLIT THE SECTORS OFF; BUT NOT ANY MORE. AS OF 2 MONTHS AGO; MGMNT AT ZAU DECIDED TO DECOMMISSION THE SECOND SECTOR LEAVING THE CTLRS TO WATCH A LARGER SECTOR NEEDING 3 FREQS FOR COVERAGE. THE DECOMMISSIONING WENT AGAINST ANY AND ALL INPUT FROM THE CTLRS WORKING THE AIRSPACE. MGMNT DOESN'T WORK THE AIRSPACE; THE CTLRS DO; AND THEIR INPUT SHOULD NOT BE DISREGARDED. THE FREQ CONGESTION AND ADDITIONAL AIRSPACE IS A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN! ALL OF THIS IS HAPPENING WITH 5 TO 6 LESS CTLRS PER SHIFT THAN 2 YRS AGO.

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.