S56 departure controller complains about ZLC traffic management coordination spacing.

Attributes
ACN	576481
Time
Date	200303
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : bce.vortac
State Reference	UT
Altitude	msl bound lower : 31000 msl bound upper : 33000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zlc.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Regional Jet CL65, Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zlc.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 19
ASRS Report	576481
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	faa : investigated
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

Aircraft #1, (CRJ2) was vectored to build 20 mi space behind another aircraft. This 'hole' was to be filled by aircraft #2. However, aircraft #2 had been slowed to slowest practical speed by slc tmu. Aircraft #1 was vectored for several mins to make a hole that aircraft #2 would never fit in because aircraft #2 had been slowed for 20 mins. I then had to vector aircraft #2 for an additional 8-10 mins at mach .62 to fit 20 mi behind aircraft #1. Now there is a 40 mi gap in front of aircraft #1 for no reason. There is no aircraft to fit in this space. This means aircraft #1 was vectored for no reason, and aircraft #2 was slowed for at least 20 mins to slowest practical speed, and vectored for 10 mins, for no reason. Apparently this plan was initiated by slc tmu. I have no idea how much fuel was wasted or how many people delayed because of this 'plan,' but it must be substantial. There seems to be a lack of monitoring or communication throughout the described scenario. There is also an apparent lack of understanding by tmu of how to space airplanes that come from different sectors. This is an ongoing problem at this facility that is generally met with resistance and self protection from tmu and upper level management.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: S56 DEP CTLR COMPLAINS ABOUT ZLC TFC MGMNT COORD SPACING.

Narrative: ACFT #1, (CRJ2) WAS VECTORED TO BUILD 20 MI SPACE BEHIND ANOTHER ACFT. THIS 'HOLE' WAS TO BE FILLED BY ACFT #2. HOWEVER, ACFT #2 HAD BEEN SLOWED TO SLOWEST PRACTICAL SPD BY SLC TMU. ACFT #1 WAS VECTORED FOR SEVERAL MINS TO MAKE A HOLE THAT ACFT #2 WOULD NEVER FIT IN BECAUSE ACFT #2 HAD BEEN SLOWED FOR 20 MINS. I THEN HAD TO VECTOR ACFT #2 FOR AN ADDITIONAL 8-10 MINS AT MACH .62 TO FIT 20 MI BEHIND ACFT #1. NOW THERE IS A 40 MI GAP IN FRONT OF ACFT #1 FOR NO REASON. THERE IS NO ACFT TO FIT IN THIS SPACE. THIS MEANS ACFT #1 WAS VECTORED FOR NO REASON, AND ACFT #2 WAS SLOWED FOR AT LEAST 20 MINS TO SLOWEST PRACTICAL SPD, AND VECTORED FOR 10 MINS, FOR NO REASON. APPARENTLY THIS PLAN WAS INITIATED BY SLC TMU. I HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH FUEL WAS WASTED OR HOW MANY PEOPLE DELAYED BECAUSE OF THIS 'PLAN,' BUT IT MUST BE SUBSTANTIAL. THERE SEEMS TO BE A LACK OF MONITORING OR COM THROUGHOUT THE DESCRIBED SCENARIO. THERE IS ALSO AN APPARENT LACK OF UNDERSTANDING BY TMU OF HOW TO SPACE AIRPLANES THAT COME FROM DIFFERENT SECTORS. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROB AT THIS FACILITY THAT IS GENERALLY MET WITH RESISTANCE AND SELF PROTECTION FROM TMU AND UPPER LEVEL MGMNT.

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.