Narrative:

Central flow control implemented the 'managed arrival reservoir' today. This system calls for airborne delays rather than ground delays, all at the airlines request. Delays were a steady 30-45 mins all night, at times reaching 45-55 mins. This is airborne holding, not ground delays. The potential for an unsafe situation because of excessive delays was high. This type of traffic management should stop. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: traffic management unit at ZFW was called to verify reporter allegation. Tmc said the program had not been implemented at ZFW. Tmc refused to discuss program and said call central flow.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: NEW FLOW CTL PROGRAM MANAGED ARR RESERVOIR (MAR) CAUSED EXCESSIVE AIRBORNE HOLDING.

Narrative: CENTRAL FLOW CTL IMPLEMENTED THE 'MANAGED ARR RESERVOIR' TODAY. THIS SYS CALLS FOR AIRBORNE DELAYS RATHER THAN GND DELAYS, ALL AT THE AIRLINES REQUEST. DELAYS WERE A STEADY 30-45 MINS ALL NIGHT, AT TIMES REACHING 45-55 MINS. THIS IS AIRBORNE HOLDING, NOT GND DELAYS. THE POTENTIAL FOR AN UNSAFE SIT BECAUSE OF EXCESSIVE DELAYS WAS HIGH. THIS TYPE OF TFC MGMNT SHOULD STOP. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: TFC MGMNT UNIT AT ZFW WAS CALLED TO VERIFY RPTR ALLEGATION. TMC SAID THE PROGRAM HAD NOT BEEN IMPLEMENTED AT ZFW. TMC REFUSED TO DISCUSS PROGRAM AND SAID CALL CENTRAL FLOW.

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.