Small Aircraft; High Wing; 1 Eng; Fixed Gear
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 3.5
Training / Qualification; Situational Awareness; Communication Breakdown; Distraction
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Procedure; Human Factors; Company Policy
During the 1-man mid 'training' for 25 minutes today; a VFR aircraft called on 118.05 which is not provided at the active sector; despite it being the sole low altitude frequency for sector 31.  I was unable to respond as working two operational positions at one time is prohibited by the FAA. The aircraft was forced to call a nearby non-RADAR approach control. TWF approach was able to call me on the landline and issue the high sector frequency; 121.15 to the VFR aircraft.1-man mid operations are dangerous. In the first 25 minutes; I could not provide VFR services to an aircraft without the relay of a non-RADAR approach control. The transition to permanent 1-man mid operations shall be halted immediately.
ZLC Controller reports of working a one man mid shift and not being able to answer an aircraft that called on a frequency he didn't have at the position he was working. The frequency was at another position; but since he was working two positions combined already; he couldn't answer the aircraft. An adjacent approach called via the landline and he gave them the correct frequency.