Narrative:

On this day; only 2 controllers were available to work 2 sectors at ZAU. This dangerously low number of available controllers required the 2 sectors to remain combined for the majority of the evening shift. This had the potential of becoming a dangerous situation because if one of the controllers was on break there was no immediate help available to the remaining controller. The sectors comprise very complex airspace with multiple shelves and numerous approach control facilities.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZAU CTLR VOICED CONCERN REGARDING LACK OF FACILITY STAFFING; REQUIRING SECTORS TO BE COMBINED FOR MOST OF THE SHIFT.

Narrative: ON THIS DAY; ONLY 2 CTLRS WERE AVAILABLE TO WORK 2 SECTORS AT ZAU. THIS DANGEROUSLY LOW NUMBER OF AVAILABLE CTLRS REQUIRED THE 2 SECTORS TO REMAIN COMBINED FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE EVENING SHIFT. THIS HAD THE POTENTIAL OF BECOMING A DANGEROUS SITUATION BECAUSE IF ONE OF THE CTLRS WAS ON BREAK THERE WAS NO IMMEDIATE HELP AVAILABLE TO THE REMAINING CTLR. THE SECTORS COMPRISE VERY COMPLEX AIRSPACE WITH MULTIPLE SHELVES AND NUMEROUS APCH CTL FACILITIES.

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.