B757 was given a spacing turn nearing polar intersection.

Attributes
ACN	367570
Time
Date	199704
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mbs airport : dtw
State Reference	MI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 12000 msl bound upper : 13000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dtw tracon : jax
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B757 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	other other : other pilot : cfi pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 8800 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	367570
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

While on the polar 1 arrival to dtw, we were cleared to cross polar at 12000 ft and 250 KTS. While descending through 13000 ft and slowing to 250 KTS and 3 mi prior to reaching polar, ATC broke us off the arrival and gave us westerly heading (280 degrees). After we inquired as for the reason for this heading, they claimed it to be spacing. We ended up flying a right 360 degree turn, then back to polar for an uneventful landing.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B757 WAS GIVEN A SPACING TURN NEARING POLAR INTXN.

Narrative: WHILE ON THE POLAR 1 ARR TO DTW, WE WERE CLRED TO CROSS POLAR AT 12000 FT AND 250 KTS. WHILE DSNDING THROUGH 13000 FT AND SLOWING TO 250 KTS AND 3 MI PRIOR TO REACHING POLAR, ATC BROKE US OFF THE ARR AND GAVE US WESTERLY HDG (280 DEGS). AFTER WE INQUIRED AS FOR THE REASON FOR THIS HDG, THEY CLAIMED IT TO BE SPACING. WE ENDED UP FLYING A R 360 DEG TURN, THEN BACK TO POLAR FOR AN UNEVENTFUL LNDG.

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.