Thunderbolt II (Warthog A-10)
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Training / Qualification; Situational Awareness; Confusion
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors; Procedure
A flight of four A10s requested a flight break-up prior to arrival at their destination. I was training an R-Side developmental. Neither of us had done a flight break-up in quite some time. I feel that the operation was completed safely; but in retrospect I realize that I may not have had my trainee use the proper MARSA phraseology. I feel that operations such as this need to be part of a regular training/simulation cycle as a part of continuing education. I recommend a yearly classroom/simulator training on things like flight break ups; non-RADAR; etc. to keep controllers fresh on less common procedures. CBI is NOT an effective means of continuing education in our field. A hands-on classroom/simulator class would be more effective for helping this information 'stick.'
Had a flight of four A10's level at FL200 crossing my boundary asking to break up; landing at the base. Squawked up and RADAR identified all planes. I had three planes fly 270 headings assuming they were still MARSA and gave the second a descent clearance to 11;000 FT. Leaving FL170; I issued the first a descent to FL180. Once the first left FL190 issued a descent clearance to the third to descend to FL190. Thus all four planes where not vertically separated. While performing flight break up both me and my trainer weren't entirely sure if done correctly. Could not find information in the 7110.65 in a reasonable time to be able to make sure technique was correct. Recommendation; I would recommend that a flight break up would be easier to find in the 7110.65. My trainer was taught differently than me to do a flight break up. I would recommend a single technique or a CBI refresher once a year.
Enroute Controller providing OJT described a confused military flight break up event; noting unfamiliarity with the break up procedures and suggesting more frequent Controller simulation training for this operation.