Narrative:

First day of work after 2 day break - working 1300 - 2100 whole area of specialization had chop/turbulence all altitudes I had no more than 8 aircraft in my sector (moore field high - 24000 and up). I had just given another ride report including winds (very strong). Aircraft involved - an air carrier (X) widebody transport level FL390 after departure from iad and an cga light transport (Y) at FL370 en route to bgr. Air carrier X had been level at FL390 only a couple of mins before my ride/wind report (his ground speed was down to 310 KTS). Traffic workload on me was very light at this time. It had been very busy not long before. Air carrier X ask for descent to FL350 and I issued clearance. And sat back. I did not 'see' cga Y at FL370! I have no idea how far apart the aircraft were when I cleared air carrier X to FL350. My first clue was when the conflict-alert went off. Well, surprise! Surprise! The pilots reacted very quickly to my instructions for turns air carrier X 30 degrees right, cga Y right to a 090 degree heading. Their reactions may have been quickened by what we'll call the utterance of a 'non-approved call to attention' over the frequency (show as in the comics) the co-operation I received from these two pilots was great! This is all the paperwork I'll have to do. They got a hearty thanks and I'm sorry on the frequency. (I'm not making light of this) cause: 'brain fart.' prevent recurrence: take a break after a long busy period (off the sector). Next time (heaven forbid) use 'whoops' instead of ---- as an attention getter - after all it works for dentist!

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR WAS ISSUED A DSCNT THROUGH AN OCCUPIED ALT RESULTING IN LTSS.

Narrative: FIRST DAY OF WORK AFTER 2 DAY BREAK - WORKING 1300 - 2100 WHOLE AREA OF SPECIALIZATION HAD CHOP/TURB ALL ALTS I HAD NO MORE THAN 8 ACFT IN MY SECTOR (MOORE FIELD HIGH - 24000 AND UP). I HAD JUST GIVEN ANOTHER RIDE RPT INCLUDING WINDS (VERY STRONG). ACFT INVOLVED - AN ACR (X) WDB LEVEL FL390 AFTER DEP FROM IAD AND AN CGA LTT (Y) AT FL370 ENRTE TO BGR. ACR X HAD BEEN LEVEL AT FL390 ONLY A COUPLE OF MINS BEFORE MY RIDE/WIND RPT (HIS GND SPD WAS DOWN TO 310 KTS). TFC WORKLOAD ON ME WAS VERY LIGHT AT THIS TIME. IT HAD BEEN VERY BUSY NOT LONG BEFORE. ACR X ASK FOR DSCNT TO FL350 AND I ISSUED CLRNC. AND SAT BACK. I DID NOT 'SEE' CGA Y AT FL370! I HAVE NO IDEA HOW FAR APART THE ACFT WERE WHEN I CLRED ACR X TO FL350. MY FIRST CLUE WAS WHEN THE CONFLICT-ALERT WENT OFF. WELL, SURPRISE! SURPRISE! THE PLTS REACTED VERY QUICKLY TO MY INSTRUCTIONS FOR TURNS ACR X 30 DEGS R, CGA Y R TO A 090 DEG HDG. THEIR REACTIONS MAY HAVE BEEN QUICKENED BY WHAT WE'LL CALL THE UTTERANCE OF A 'NON-APPROVED CALL TO ATTN' OVER THE FREQ (SHOW AS IN THE COMICS) THE CO-OP I RECEIVED FROM THESE TWO PLTS WAS GREAT! THIS IS ALL THE PAPERWORK I'LL HAVE TO DO. THEY GOT A HEARTY THANKS AND I'M SORRY ON THE FREQ. (I'M NOT MAKING LIGHT OF THIS) CAUSE: 'BRAIN FART.' PREVENT RECURRENCE: TAKE A BREAK AFTER A LONG BUSY PERIOD (OFF THE SECTOR). NEXT TIME (HEAVEN FORBID) USE 'WHOOPS' INSTEAD OF ---- AS AN ATTN GETTER - AFTER ALL IT WORKS FOR DENTIST!

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.