Large Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 16
Distraction; Workload; Situational Awareness; Confusion; Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance
Procedure; Human Factors
There are 3 TMUs [Should be TMC - U is the unit; C is a coordinator] on the floor today; but they are not helping with problems with the traffic flow at sector R4. Unsafe work conditions result because of the flow control without any call for release from the outer island airports. I am concerned there will be a catastrophic incident in the near future.I was working R4/D4 combined during a 2 hour busy rush period. Flow control was established at 15 miles in trail and 250 knots at the fix SAKKI; where all aircraft has to cross at 060. No D-side was available to me; due to our short staffing. I was under the assumption that one of the three TMUs [TMCs] on the floor would help with the flow control; but I was sadly mistaken. In sector 4; I can only have 4 aircraft in my airspace with the restriction of 15 miles in trail. OGG is in my airspace; and OGG has an automatic release of aircraft. I was too busy to have an automatic release of aircraft when I was already handling my 4 planes at 14 miles in trail. In addition; I had aircraft coming from sector 7 that were deviating; due to weather conditions.Also note that not one of the three TMUs [TMCs] is certified on any of the center sectors (not R2/D2; not R3/D3; not R7/D7; not R5/D5; nor R4/D4). How are the TMUs [TMCs] able to help center controllers with the flow control; if not a single one of them is able to fully understand the sector?I am beyond annoyed with this ongoing situation. Each day; we have unrealistic flow control at the center sectors; without any help from the TMUs [TMCs]. I'm not asking for much; just that they get on the phone and take care of the call for releases at OGG; ITO; and KOA. There are three of them. One or two or three can handle that.Have one of the three TMUs [TMCs] do a call for release with the neighbor island airports when there is a 15 mile in trail flow control at Honolulu Approach (HNL).
HCF Controller reported of the lack of help from the Traffic Management Unit. Three Traffic Management Coordinators were on the floor helping; but according to the reporter did nothing to help. None of the TMC's were certified to work any of the areas where the flow control problems were.