Fighter
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 2.5
Training / Qualification; Distraction; Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Airspace Violation All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Separated Traffic; Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert
Human Factors; Procedure
I was the trainer at the ZJX military position. The Navy airspace coordinator 'Sea Lord' call to activate Tail Hook 'A' airspace. The TMC trainee answered the phone and was not on speaker so the phone call went into his ear only. I was still busy review other airspace that we just activated in the Gulf Of Mexico. After trainee hung up the phone I ask what 'Sea Lord' wanted? TMC trainee advised they just wanted to know if they were able to activate Tail Hook 'A' and they were to call back if they needed it. I heard him explain to 'Sea Lord' the NOTAM had been sent and was good until [date removed]. Approximately 15 minutes later 'Sea Lord' called back to verify Tail Hook 'A' was hot. TMC trainee answered 'No' but we would start coordination to activate. A couple minutes later ZJX North area supervisor walked into TMU Military position and said 'Fighters are already using the Tail hook 'A' airspace.' We completed all coordination as fast as we could. Afterwards I checked the tapes and 'Sea Lord' was very weak and hard to hear but at the end of the call he said 'He would call it active at this time' and TMC trainee did not hear it.My first recommendation is for myself. The hand-set plugged in should have been on speaker mode. That way I may have heard the entire conversation. My second recommendation is for the Military postion at ZJX be staffed with full time employees that do nothing other than handle the military desk. As a unit we rotate positions and no one is comfortable at that desk. That position needs the same people day in and day out working it. The potential for unsafe operations is very high due to the lack of continuity (not to mention the poor product we provide the controllers on the floor).
While giving instruction to a Developmental; ZJX Controller did not list in on a phone call and relied on the Developmental to tell him what the conversation was about. The activation of restricted airspace was what the conversation was about. The airspace was considered hot by the military but the Developmental thought they would call back to activate the airspace. Aircraft were in the now hot area and the controllers had not coordinated with other sectors in the Center.