Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 19
Training / Qualification; Time Pressure; Situational Awareness; Workload
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Air Traffic Control Separated Traffic; Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed
Company Policy; Human Factors; Weather; Staffing; Procedure
I was vectoring when level 5 weather popped up near the west side of the airport. We were on west flow. I asked if we should really keep going into 3 full runways with weather like this. The response was 'the tower says it doesn't look that bad out the window'. Everyone started to go around. We had nowhere to go with all these planes with weather and so many in the airspace. No preemptive strike to help the situation. I believe part of the problem is that there were younger people; while all very skilled; were not sure what to do with the situation without getting in trouble or feeling they might. There were only CICs being utilized rather than a supervisor being in charge of the front line. There was an OM on duty; although; one; I'm not sure if he was in the room; and two; he has really no idea what's going on. There were so many go arounds and no instructions as to what to do with all of them; i.e. another runway; divert; etc. Many were minimum fuel. It was very frustrating and stressful. It seemed like survival of the fittest rather than any coordination or instruction being given. Also; monitors were never called for with extreme weather; even after everyone started going around.A supervisor should be in charge of the front line when there is only one in the room. Coordination should be done to lessen the arrivals with extreme weather in the area. CICs should be made aware that they can do what they need to for the safety of the aircraft coming rather than the 'who am I going to be in trouble with' rather than slowing fixes and holding or coming off a runway; or two for that matter; with extreme weather. CICs are put in a bad position because they are unsure of what they can and can't do. Same as unsupervised mid shifts.
C90 Approach Controller reported that their sectors became overloaded and unorganized due to numerous weather related go-arounds combined with a lack of experienced controllers and supervision.