Commercial Fixed Wing
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 13
Situational Awareness; Workload; Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Separated Traffic
Weather; Staffing; Human Factors; Company Policy
I was working combined sectors. Traffic was deviating for weather and there was miles in trail to two airports. The Warning Areas were all active and there was weather in the vicinity affecting the sectors to the north and their ability to provide spacing. As the volume built; controllers returning from break were assigned to open sectors; work D-sides; and tracker positions. By the time the traffic made it to my combined sectors and I asked for a D-side. There were no bodies left to provide me help. The traffic push was long enough that the sectors to the north still needed their help; so I was forced to work alone.Once I asked for a D-side; a call was made for miles in trail off of one of our airports; which was of course way too late to have any real effect on the complexity. Additionally; our Supervisor asked the Operations Manager (OM) for permission to go work my D-side; as he is certified on those positions. After about 5 minutes; he came over to work my D-side. However; before he was plugged in; the OM returned and ordered him to call the watch desk to provide a recorded briefing about the area. By the time he actually assumed the position; I had worked through most of the push and really didn't need the help. This is the third shift in my prior five where I have witnessed someone ask for help and there has not been an available body in the building. TMU (Traffic Management Unit) both locally and nationally needs to be more responsive to the needs of an understaffed area and get ahead of the problem as opposed to reacting. Additionally; we as controllers need to be willing to reach out sector to sector and ask for the assistance we need. Of course; this places an incredible burden on the sectors surrounding us and increases their complexity. It would be preferable that advance planning were in place so that the burden is minimized on all involved; not simply shifted to a different sector. Finally; I feel there needs to be a shift in emphasis from upper management from 'CYA' to actual efforts to improve safety. I find it truly baffling that during a situation where the entire area is busy with traffic; spacing; weather; and a Controller is asking for help that the priority was on a verbal briefing from a Supervisor to the watch desk so they can essentially answer the phone calls.
A ZJX Center Controller reported requesting D-Sides to assist but there is routinely insufficient staffing to provide assistance.