Narrative:

I lost operation control of some flts due to unforecast WX at ZZZ. Although I did not have to amend my flts to ZZZ to add an alternate per the ZZZ forecast; the hourly sequence was reporting a 700 ft ceiling (so the alternate exemption was not applicable) and ATC issued advisory stating that a fog bank was going to move over the airport and holding would result. Due to this information I felt that I needed to add an alternate for my ZZZ flts that did not have one already. In addition I was dealing with questions regarding turbulence; a mechanical patch with maintenance for a flight which also needed discussion and amended release due to ZZZ WX. I had to have the dispatcher on another sector respond to my flight ZZZ1-ZZZ that was in holding for ZZZ regarding alternate preference for ZZZ as I was too busy to respond. I inadvertently amended flight XXX to add ZZZ3 alternate but the flight was operating to ZZZ1 from ZZZ and therefore did not need an alternate. The captain noticed the mistake but in the meantime the additional fuel had been added (expensive mistake). The master dispatcher on duty did see my workload problem and came over and asked if I needed help but there is no way to split up the workload instantly in a situation like this. I have repeatedly requested the workload committee to address my workload issues but have had no positive results. Due to the numerous short hops ZZZ1-ZZZ-ZZZ1 and ZZZ4-ZZZ-ZZZ4 I can and do lose operation control of my flts quickly when multiple problems arise; which is quite often.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR DISPATCH REPORTS LOSING OPERATIONAL CONTROL OF NUMEROUS SHORT FLTS IN THE SECTOR BECAUSE OF OVERLOADS DUE TO WX AND MECHANICALS.

Narrative: I LOST OP CTL OF SOME FLTS DUE TO UNFORECAST WX AT ZZZ. ALTHOUGH I DID NOT HAVE TO AMEND MY FLTS TO ZZZ TO ADD AN ALTERNATE PER THE ZZZ FORECAST; THE HOURLY SEQUENCE WAS RPTING A 700 FT CEILING (SO THE ALTERNATE EXEMPTION WAS NOT APPLICABLE) AND ATC ISSUED ADVISORY STATING THAT A FOG BANK WAS GOING TO MOVE OVER THE ARPT AND HOLDING WOULD RESULT. DUE TO THIS INFO I FELT THAT I NEEDED TO ADD AN ALTERNATE FOR MY ZZZ FLTS THAT DID NOT HAVE ONE ALREADY. IN ADDITION I WAS DEALING WITH QUESTIONS REGARDING TURB; A MECHANICAL PATCH WITH MAINT FOR A FLT WHICH ALSO NEEDED DISCUSSION AND AMENDED RELEASE DUE TO ZZZ WX. I HAD TO HAVE THE DISPATCHER ON ANOTHER SECTOR RESPOND TO MY FLT ZZZ1-ZZZ THAT WAS IN HOLDING FOR ZZZ REGARDING ALTERNATE PREFERENCE FOR ZZZ AS I WAS TOO BUSY TO RESPOND. I INADVERTENTLY AMENDED FLT XXX TO ADD ZZZ3 ALTERNATE BUT THE FLT WAS OPERATING TO ZZZ1 FROM ZZZ AND THEREFORE DID NOT NEED AN ALTERNATE. THE CAPT NOTICED THE MISTAKE BUT IN THE MEANTIME THE ADDITIONAL FUEL HAD BEEN ADDED (EXPENSIVE MISTAKE). THE MASTER DISPATCHER ON DUTY DID SEE MY WORKLOAD PROB AND CAME OVER AND ASKED IF I NEEDED HELP BUT THERE IS NO WAY TO SPLIT UP THE WORKLOAD INSTANTLY IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS. I HAVE REPEATEDLY REQUESTED THE WORKLOAD COMMITTEE TO ADDRESS MY WORKLOAD ISSUES BUT HAVE HAD NO POSITIVE RESULTS. DUE TO THE NUMEROUS SHORT HOPS ZZZ1-ZZZ-ZZZ1 AND ZZZ4-ZZZ-ZZZ4 I CAN AND DO LOSE OP CTL OF MY FLTS QUICKLY WHEN MULTIPLE PROBS ARISE; WHICH IS QUITE OFTEN.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 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.