Military Transport
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (mon) 8
Workload; Time Pressure; Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Weather; Procedure; Airspace Structure; Airport
I had just worked a busy session on Radar East with weather and multiple arrivals. The Supervisor needed me to get Radar West because that Controller was going home. I agreed to a quick break and went to use the bathroom and came right back to work Radar West. The airbase was utilizing the TACAN to Runway 7. The airbase utilizes Runway 25 99% of the time. Runway 7 might be used a total of 3 times a year and never when it is busy or with weather. I had [six military aircraft of the same type] in the radar pattern; all of which were stepping on each other wanting different things. I was also working another plane IFR into nearby SRC that needed an ILS approach. At one point I shouted that I need someone to break off Radar North which is the position that handles the airbase traffic and is combined to Radar West 99% of the time. No one came to break off North but the FLM was watching over my shoulder because the airbase traffic was very busy and in a configuration that we hardly use. I cleared Aircraft X for a transition from the west where they descend down to 2;000 FT. Aircraft Y wanted the TACAN to Runway 7 and I put them on a 090 heading and down to 5;000 thinking they will be at 5;000 and Aircraft X will be at 2;000. Aircraft X did not start their descent and was still at 080 when I noticed Aircraft Y descending out of 078 and only 1.1 NM away. The FLM did not see this either as our attention was on the base arrivals.If Radar North had been split off this would not have happened. Runway 7 have the base is so rarely used that when it is and there are more than two [of these type aircraft] in the pattern Radar North should immediately be split off. On a personal note; I feel that this is not a performance issue. I do not deserve a negative Performance Record of Conference since I asked for help and North was not split off. The FLM was right behind me and didn't see this situation either.
LIT Approach Controller reports of loss of separation while working a busy session at night with weather.