ZMA Controller reported issues related to weather deviations and Traffic Management related issues.
Synopsis
ZMA Controller reported issues related to weather deviations and Traffic Management related issues.
Narrative
First and foremost; this report is long overdue. I guess everybody has a breaking point and today I've reached mine. Everyday for the last year we've been coming into work; plugging in for 2 hours or more with minimum staffing; and then getting a 20 minute break so that we can hurry back to get the next controller out of position before they go over 2 hours. Sadly; this isn't what this report is about. This report is about the total disregard for safety that our Traffic Management Unit has shown our area for the last year or so. We are being placed in unmanageable sectors day in and day out. If there is weather; they act as if the weather showed up out of nowhere and it's our first day working a weather day. There is never a plan in place to give us a fighting chance. If there is volume; we hear words such as: JAX is going to try and give you 15 miles in trail from the North but don't expect it from the West. We magically cater to everybody's demand day in and day out but God forbid that we have to offload a few aircraft to another Sector in Miami Center or even to JAX Center.The answer is always: NO! So we end up holding these aircraft and causing even more of an airshow over here in the West Side Coastal Area. I just finished working at Sector 0X/0Y for over 2 hours with weather. The aircraft never stopped departing and never stopped coming into our sector. We were saturated with weather but that never stopped Traffic Management Unit from putting something into play for us to have a fighting chance at the sector. On the other hand; I received a call from JAX Center saying that our Traffic Management Unit told them to send us the aircraft they were holding and that we would work them. I know that we are short staffed Nation Wide and I understand why; but something has to be done to help out our Area. We deal with this everyday.We have 2 supervisors for 7 crews. That being said; there is always a Controller in Charge working the supervisors position taking another body away from the crew. Please take a look at the Sector: Date from XA:00L - XC:06L. I tried my best to keep my cool and control the situation. At one point; there was an air carrier Pilot that went on Guard and started saying how this was completely unacceptable. He was saying how I deliberately ignored him and how unprofessional and unacceptable it was. I completely agree with that pilot and I hope that he turns in his report as well. I have never or will never ignore an aircraft on purpose.He just kept on getting blocked by everybody else and when he didn't get blocked; I just couldn't find him on my scope. I have a very high threshold for volume and complexity but enough is enough. I know that this is a long report but I am simply tired of coming into work and getting a fixed deck of cards being stacked against us on a daily basis. I've heard the Union and the Management going back and forth on how to fix this situation; so I hope this report gets into the right hands and we can figure out a solution for this problem.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.