Narrative:

During the morning arrival rush on R7 (mkl low) sector of ZME, we received instructions from flow control to provide mem approach with 15 mi in trail. As the rush progressed, we were instructed to provide 250 KTS at the arrival gates. Several aircraft were put in the position of not being able to comply with their crossing restrs because of this late notice. Mem (R7) began vectoring the aircraft to allow time to meet the restrs. When sequencing was resumed, mem approach advised center that 15 mi in trail was not correct (they wanted 20 mi in trail). Once again, the aircraft were vectored for additional spacing. When the 20 mi in trail was attained and the aircraft were being handed off, mem approach 'shut the gate' and advised ZME to hold the aircraft. Several aircraft were beyond the holding fix and also transitioning altitudes. These aircraft had to be turned back in the face of more arrs, leveled at safe altitudes and hurriedly issued hold instructions. This problem is a daily occurrence at ZME since the latest mem LOA was signed, it puts a nearly unworkable load on the controller and presents an unsafe if not potentially disastrous situation for the aircraft involved.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ARTCC RADAR CTLR COMPLAINT ABOUT THE TFC MGMNT UNIT PLACING IN TRAIL RESTRS ON ARRS INTO MEM.

Narrative: DURING THE MORNING ARR RUSH ON R7 (MKL LOW) SECTOR OF ZME, WE RECEIVED INSTRUCTIONS FROM FLOW CTL TO PROVIDE MEM APCH WITH 15 MI IN TRAIL. AS THE RUSH PROGRESSED, WE WERE INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE 250 KTS AT THE ARR GATES. SEVERAL ACFT WERE PUT IN THE POS OF NOT BEING ABLE TO COMPLY WITH THEIR XING RESTRS BECAUSE OF THIS LATE NOTICE. MEM (R7) BEGAN VECTORING THE ACFT TO ALLOW TIME TO MEET THE RESTRS. WHEN SEQUENCING WAS RESUMED, MEM APCH ADVISED CTR THAT 15 MI IN TRAIL WAS NOT CORRECT (THEY WANTED 20 MI IN TRAIL). ONCE AGAIN, THE ACFT WERE VECTORED FOR ADDITIONAL SPACING. WHEN THE 20 MI IN TRAIL WAS ATTAINED AND THE ACFT WERE BEING HANDED OFF, MEM APCH 'SHUT THE GATE' AND ADVISED ZME TO HOLD THE ACFT. SEVERAL ACFT WERE BEYOND THE HOLDING FIX AND ALSO TRANSITIONING ALTS. THESE ACFT HAD TO BE TURNED BACK IN THE FACE OF MORE ARRS, LEVELED AT SAFE ALTS AND HURRIEDLY ISSUED HOLD INSTRUCTIONS. THIS PROB IS A DAILY OCCURRENCE AT ZME SINCE THE LATEST MEM LOA WAS SIGNED, IT PUTS A NEARLY UNWORKABLE LOAD ON THE CTLR AND PRESENTS AN UNSAFE IF NOT POTENTIALLY DISASTROUS SIT FOR THE ACFT INVOLVED.

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.