You'd be amazed at the lengths they go to to avoid hiding the lack of staff numbers. In the old days, an ATC group (eg 3 or 4 sectors) would have a published minimum staffing level. That number would vary throughout the day depending on traffic levels.
As an example, a 4 sector group might have a requirement to have at least 7 controllers rostered and a minimum of 5 working allowing for sickies. If these minimums weren't met, an ESIR was put in and explanations would be required. It was a safety event! Notams were also issued.
Over time, these minimums were reduced and reduced until the paperwork trail and the embarrassment became so regular that the documents were scrapped and there is
no longer any trail of when these situations take place. The minimum staff requirement for the 4 sectors these days is simply 1. As long as one body is sitting in a chair and the sectors can all be combined up and there is no declared TRA/TIBA, then minimums have been met.
Traffic metering? NOC help?? pfft! A break should be provided every two hours and is supposed to be mandated at least every 3 hours but often this just doesn't happen. Need a pee? Wait until a supervisor deems he isn't **** scared enough to sit and watch the screen for 3 minutes while you duck out for a quickie and leave nobody qualified to watch YOUR airspace. Better be careful tho, that supervisor is not responsible for what happens while you are gone.
Oh, the next shift has just gone down as well. Would you mind extending your 0600 shift through to 3pm? You can still legally make it back for the night shift tonight at 2300! Or better still, extend to 1600 and we'll come up with something in the meantime and get you back at midnight instead.
