MEM CTLR VOICED CONCERN REGARDING TIME ON POSITION; SUGGESTING EITHER STAFFING SHORTAGES AND/OR LACK OF SUPVR OVERSIGHT.

Date: 2007-12

Anomalies: other-time-on-position

Synopsis

MEM CTLR VOICED CONCERN REGARDING TIME ON POSITION; SUGGESTING EITHER STAFFING SHORTAGES AND/OR LACK OF SUPVR OVERSIGHT.

Narrative

THIS MORNING I WAS ASSIGNED TO WORK IN THE RADAR APCH CTL AT MEM ATCT. AT XA59 LCL; I SIGNED ON TO TAKE A BRIEFING TO OPEN THE E PARALLEL FINAL POS. WX CONDITIONS WERE MARGINAL VFR AT BEST AND SOLID IFR AT WORST WITH WINDS FROM VARIOUS DIRECTIONS AT DIFFERENT ALTS; INCLUDING A GENERAL TAILWIND ABOVE 1500 FT MSL. FOR MOST OF MY TIME ON THE E PARALLEL FINAL; SIMULTANEOUS ILS APCHS WERE IN USE. I WAS FINALLY RELIEVED FROM POS AT XD15. THERE WERE AT LEAST 3 OTHER PEOPLE THAT WENT OVER 2 HRS ON POS THAT MORNING; ONE FOR ALMOST 2 HRS AND 40 MINS. THERE WAS A NEW SUPVR IN CHARGE; AND I AM NOT SURE IF HE WAS UNABLE TO ESTABLISH A REGULAR BREAK ROTATION BECAUSE OF HIS RELATIVE INEXPERIENCE WITH OUR FACILITY OR IF HE SIMPLY DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE PRESENT TO RUN THE SHIFT. IN CONDITIONS SUCH AS THAT MORNING; A HIGH LEVEL OF CONCENTRATION IS REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN A SAFE; EXPEDITIOUS FLOW OF TFC. THIS IS DIFFICULT FOR ANYONE TO DO FOR 2 HRS OR MORE AT A TIME. NOW ADD THE FACT THAT MANY OF US ARE WORKING 6 DAY WKS AND/OR OCCASIONAL 10 HR DAYS; AND YOU CAN IMAGINE THAT CTLRS ARE GETTING TIRED. OUR FACILITY HAS NUMEROUS DEVELOPMENTAL; BUT THE MAJORITY OF THEM WON'T BE FULLY CERTIFIED FOR MORE THAN A YR.

Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.