DISPATCHER COMPLAINS OF EXTENDED COMPUTER OUTAGE.
Synopsis
DISPATCHER COMPLAINS OF EXTENDED COMPUTER OUTAGE.
Narrative
I WORK FOR ACR FLT OPS AS ACFT DISPATCHER. I AM RPTING AN ONGOING PROB OF OPERATIONAL CTL. ACR HAS ACFT OPERATING WORLDWIDE; 24 HRS A DAY; 7 DAYS A WK. AN ONGOING PROB IS OUR COMPUTER SYS. I WORK UNITED STATES DOMESTIC SECTORS. I USUALLY HAVE 35-45 -- SOMETIMES 50+ FLT PLANS TO WORK UP; FILE WITH ATC; AND FLT FOLLOW PER FARS AND COMPANY POLICY. I WILL RELIEVE A DISPATCHER WHO HAS MAYBE 20+ FLTS IN THE AIR WHEN I SIT DOWN AT THE SECTOR. OUR PROB IS THE COMPUTER SYS FAILS OFTEN. TONIGHT IT WAS DOWN HARD WHEN I WALKED IN UNTIL 4 1/2 HRS LATER; THEN IT WAS ONLY PARTIALLY UP AND PAINFULLY SLOW. DUE TO THE HIGH WORKLOAD; I COULD NOT KEEP UP WITH FORECAST AMENDMENTS; ACARS RPTS FROM CREWS; RELAY WX UPDATES TIMELY; ETC. I MAYBE HAD 50-60% OPERATIONAL CTL ON MY DESK. OTHER DESKS WERE HOPELESSLY BEHIND; OVERWHELMED! I SIT HERE AT HOME NOW WONDERING WHAT I MAY HAVE MISSED -- NOTAMS? AN AMENDMENT? ETC. WE ALL WALKED OUT THIS MORNING WITH OUR HEADS SPINNING! THIS IS NO WAY TO RUN A MAJOR AIRLINE FLT CTL/DISPATCH. SOLUTION: NEW SYS.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.