Narrative:

After working around a line of thunderstorms, this flight, first officer flying, was cleared to lga via the extol arrival. This arrival is one of the least efficient I have seen, with at least 6 vortacs in use in the space of less than 100 mi, and several course changes--one of 90 degrees and others approaching 45 degrees. 2 of the vortacs are less than 12 mi from each other. There are also about 5 sector frequency changes in the space of about 50 mi, with each new controller seemingly of a different mind on whatever routing the last guy gave (ie, direct pawling, or direct kingston, etc). The route is normally smoothed out by a 'direct kingston' clearance, thereby avoiding one of the radical turns. We received this clearance, only to have it rescinded by the next controller, who told us to 'resume the STAR...' at this point we were about 15 NM from pawling VORTAC, and about 20 NM from kingston. We proceeded to pawling and then made the 90 degree turn to kingston, 12 NM away. During this turn, the controller questioned whether we were going to turn, and I replied that we already were doing so. He replied that we were already 6 mi past where we were supposed to turn. I checked the STAR chart again, and sure enough, we were supposed to have turned 12 NM west of pawling, instead of over it. This STAR is an example of the ATC system being run for the benefit of itself instead of its users. I'm sure a check of the reasons for all these turns, vortacs and frequency changes would reveal a STAR built solely on the basis of airspace constraints and convenience. It's a huge blob of unnecessary airborne confusion.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT CREW OF LGT OVERSHOT TURNING POINT TO COMPLY WITH STAR INTO LGA.

Narrative: AFTER WORKING AROUND A LINE OF TSTMS, THIS FLT, F/O FLYING, WAS CLRED TO LGA VIA THE EXTOL ARR. THIS ARR IS ONE OF THE LEAST EFFICIENT I HAVE SEEN, WITH AT LEAST 6 VORTACS IN USE IN THE SPACE OF LESS THAN 100 MI, AND SEVERAL COURSE CHANGES--ONE OF 90 DEGS AND OTHERS APCHING 45 DEGS. 2 OF THE VORTACS ARE LESS THAN 12 MI FROM EACH OTHER. THERE ARE ALSO ABOUT 5 SECTOR FREQ CHANGES IN THE SPACE OF ABOUT 50 MI, WITH EACH NEW CTLR SEEMINGLY OF A DIFFERENT MIND ON WHATEVER ROUTING THE LAST GUY GAVE (IE, DIRECT PAWLING, OR DIRECT KINGSTON, ETC). THE ROUTE IS NORMALLY SMOOTHED OUT BY A 'DIRECT KINGSTON' CLRNC, THEREBY AVOIDING ONE OF THE RADICAL TURNS. WE RECEIVED THIS CLRNC, ONLY TO HAVE IT RESCINDED BY THE NEXT CTLR, WHO TOLD US TO 'RESUME THE STAR...' AT THIS POINT WE WERE ABOUT 15 NM FROM PAWLING VORTAC, AND ABOUT 20 NM FROM KINGSTON. WE PROCEEDED TO PAWLING AND THEN MADE THE 90 DEG TURN TO KINGSTON, 12 NM AWAY. DURING THIS TURN, THE CTLR QUESTIONED WHETHER WE WERE GOING TO TURN, AND I REPLIED THAT WE ALREADY WERE DOING SO. HE REPLIED THAT WE WERE ALREADY 6 MI PAST WHERE WE WERE SUPPOSED TO TURN. I CHKED THE STAR CHART AGAIN, AND SURE ENOUGH, WE WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE TURNED 12 NM W OF PAWLING, INSTEAD OF OVER IT. THIS STAR IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE ATC SYS BEING RUN FOR THE BENEFIT OF ITSELF INSTEAD OF ITS USERS. I'M SURE A CHK OF THE REASONS FOR ALL THESE TURNS, VORTACS AND FREQ CHANGES WOULD REVEAL A STAR BUILT SOLELY ON THE BASIS OF AIRSPACE CONSTRAINTS AND CONVENIENCE. IT'S A HUGE BLOB OF UNNECESSARY AIRBORNE CONFUSION.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.