Regional Jet 200 ER/LR (CRJ200)
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Situational Awareness; Distraction; Workload
ATC Issue All Types; Airspace Violation All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Staffing; Company Policy; Airspace Structure
I was working the Cab Radar position and fulfilling the CIC (Controller in Charge) duties. The facility had three Controllers for the duration of the evening which was needed to cover all radar and tower control positions. We also had two trainees we needed to train on Ground Control. Inclement weather due to snow and low visibility. Local and Ground had several vehicles in the movement area. During the time of incident; I was trying to monitor tower operations which caused a distraction in my own radar duties. Aircraft X was handed off at 11000 feet and we cannot descend until past ALO airspace. For some reason I thought ALO was closed and Center had that airspace. On initial contact I descended Aircraft X to 4000 feet. I realized at that time that ALO was open; so I called ALO for a point-out and they approved it. The aircraft was in ALO airspace before the coordination. No other aircraft were an issue. Although the radar position was not busy (one of the reasons I wasn't paying much attention) the tower positions were busy with vehicles on/off runway and aircraft arriving/departing. If needed; this report can be shared with any party deemed necessary. CID needs more manning to cover all control positions instead of combining positions majority of the time. Management should staff more people on these shifts. Provide realistic shift guidance for CICs. In a facility with Clearance Delivery; Flight Data; Ground Control; Local Control and a TRACON; three Controllers is NOT enough to staff the facility to ensure safety in the airspace.
CID Controller assigned as Controller in Charge combined with Radar responsibilities reported an aircraft was cleared into ALO airspace without proper handoff coordination.