Date: 201601
Local time of day: 1801-2400
Location: P50.TRACON, AZ
Flight conditions: IMC
Light: Night
Aircraft: Commercial Fixed Wing
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Initial Approach
Airspace: Class B PHX
ATC / advisory: TRACON P50
Reporter organization: Government
Reporter function: Traffic Management
Reporter qualification: Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Human factors: Situational Awareness; Fatigue; Time Pressure; Workload
Anomaly: ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Detector: Person Air Traffic Control
When detected: In-flight
Result: Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Air Traffic Control Separated Traffic; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed
Contributing factors: Staffing; Weather; Procedure; Human Factors; Environment - Non Weather Related; Airspace Structure
Primary problem: Weather

Narrative: Low ceilings and IFR conditions prevailed. Arrival rate of 48. Tower was unable to provide visual separation on departures or arrivals. Dependent ILS approaches were in use with feeders providing a feed to allow finals to stagger arrivals off of the other finals position. A high workload situation for both feeders and finals. In addition; two other airports in close proximity to one another on IFR days are treated as one airport. Arrivals were unable to pick up the airports visually; but instead; had to be vectored for instrument approaches; a high workload situation for the satellite positions. Satellite sector had a handoff position open to assist with their workload but that individual was on position over 2 hours and at one point specifically advised the Supervisor on duty that he was too fatigued to continue in his position.SDL airports' approach puts aircraft over the PXR VOR and within 2 miles of PHX at low altitudes as they make the approach. Aircraft inbound to SDL were in holding over as they were inbound from the west. As aircraft were brought out of holding and provided approach clearances; departures off of PHX had to be stopped by the Traffic Management Coordinator (TMC) position to allow for the SDL bound aircraft to make their approach. PHX arrival volume was high and the TSD Alerts were showing RED as the Arrival rate of 48 was being exceeded.This situation along with all the other workload of the TMC position; which increases during weather events; created an unsafe situation as the ARC position was also combined at the TMC position. As the TMC on duty; I was overloaded with work responsibilities and specifically asked the Supervisor in charge for an ARC to be staffed to allow me to keep up with my job duties at the TMC position. That request was not complied with as there were not enough people to staff the control positions and hand-offs that needed to be open in addition to the ARC position.  From a safety standpoint; this is an unacceptable result and must be addressed.The ARC position at TRACON should NEVER be combined with the Supervisor or TMC position and should ONLY be staffed by individuals that are certified on BOTH the feeders AND finals positions. If the position is not staffed as a standalone position; it should be closed. By combining the ARC with the Supervisor or TMC position during 'slow' periods it has created a situation where the position is rarely opened as a standalone position but rather it remains combined at either the Supervisor or TMC position (most of whom are not certified on both feeders and finals) most of the time even during weather events; special events; periods of high volume of traffic; or during unusual circumstances. This has created an unsafe situation and it must be addressed.




Synopsis: P50 TRACON Controller reported being very busy with aircraft conducting instrument approaches to the main airport as well as the satellite airports. Reporter suggested an additional sector in their unit be opened instead of having to perform both functions by himself. The Supervisor was not able to open the combined sector due to lack of staffing at the time.