Small Aircraft
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 1.5
Workload; Distraction; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Staffing; Procedure; Aircraft; Human Factors
There was Aircraft X transitioning from south to north at 077. Before I cleared Aircraft Y for takeoff; I told him the position; altitude and intention of Aircraft X. When he tagged up; I called the traffic again; he didn't have him in sight. I turned Aircraft X 20 degrees left; thinking that would be enough.The traffic started to build so the CIC insisted on opening LC-2. Since Aircraft Y still did not have Aircraft X in sight; I told him to remain my frequency; so I didn't send him the departure with a conflict. The CIC got in my ear and insisted on the briefing in that moment since the traffic was building. As I was giving the briefing; Aircraft Y was at 080; his clearance limit; while Aircraft X was still at 077. He told me he was responding to an RA and climbing through his limit.In hindsight I should have turned Aircraft X more drastically to get him out of the way. We've had fires in the local area; so although the weather was 'clear;' the sky was filled with smoke; impeding his view.Fatigue. We are very short staffed as it is; and have 3 people out for medical reasons; and one out on bid leave.We are still working with too few people in the cab; when we're already so fatigued. The fatigue in this facility is growing exponentially. Our MOU states we need X CPCs per day. We really need X+1; but with our staffing number of X+3; we couldn't accomplish X+1 per day even when we're 100% staffed.
Tower Controller reported an airborne conflict and cited fatigue from being understaffed as contributing factor.