ZAB controller providing OJT described potential conflict event when developmental was not familiar ...

Narrative:

I was providing OJT on the r-side to a d-side developmental as directed. The developmental has a couple hundred hours of training between two sectors but the training program at ZAB allows and encourages d-side developmentals to work r-sides when the traffic is low. When the three aircraft were being handed off to us I questioned the developmental on what they were doing and what clearances needed to be given. I gave the refueling clearances to the two refueling aircraft and turned the sector back to the developmental. The developmental got involved in a situation on the west portion of the sector and did not descend the third refueling aircraft. When conflict alert went off I took over again and climbed the third refueling aircraft and established that the other involved aircraft was still at FL230 as far as I know actual separation was never lost. I told my trainee that I did not feel the need to fill out a report since I was filling one out on the situation. Recommendation; the ratio of trainees to trainers is very high and there is not much time for trainers to work by themselves; a little time to work alone is needed. D-side trainees should have to have at least a couple of D positions before being allowed to train on right positions so that they have a little more base knowledge.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZAB Controller providing OJT described potential conflict event when developmental was not familiar with refueling operations and failed to note the developing conflict.

Narrative: I was providing OJT on the R-side to a D-side Developmental as directed. The Developmental has a couple hundred hours of training between two sectors but the training program at ZAB allows and encourages D-side Developmentals to work R-sides when the traffic is low. When the three aircraft were being handed off to us I questioned the Developmental on what they were doing and what clearances needed to be given. I gave the refueling clearances to the two refueling aircraft and turned the sector back to the Developmental. The Developmental got involved in a situation on the West portion of the sector and did not descend the third refueling aircraft. When conflict alert went off I took over again and climbed the third refueling aircraft and established that the other involved aircraft was still at FL230 as far as I know actual separation was never lost. I told my trainee that I did not feel the need to fill out a report since I was filling one out on the situation. Recommendation; the ratio of trainees to trainers is very high and there is not much time for trainers to work by themselves; a little time to work alone is needed. D-side trainees should have to have at least a couple of D positions before being allowed to train on R positions so that they have a little more base knowledge.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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	877392
Time
Date	201003
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	ZAB.ARTCC
State Reference	NM
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Small Transport Low Wing 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	Cruise
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Instructor
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types

ZAB controller providing OJT described potential conflict event when developmental was not familiar with refueling operations and failed to note the developing conflict.