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ZTL controller experienced operational error at FL220 when A80 refused additional handoffs and forced unexpected holding.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 667982 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200508 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | intersection : macey |
| State Reference | GA |
| Altitude | msl single value : 22000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | Marginal |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : ztl.artcc tracon : a80.tracon |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | Commercial Fixed Wing |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | cruise : holding |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Aircraft 2 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : ztl.artcc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | Commercial Fixed Wing |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | cruise : holding |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : radar |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Experience | controller radar : 20 |
| ASRS Report | 667982 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : departure |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : required legal separation |
| Independent Detector | atc equipment : conflict alert other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued alert controller : issued new clearance |
| Consequence | faa : investigated |
| Miss Distance | horizontal : 21000 vertical : 100 |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | ATC Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | ATC Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Operational Error |
Narrative:
Was running 5 mi in trail to atl. Atl believed I was supposed to be running 10 mi in trail. Atl shut door (stopped taking handoffs). I had to pull numerous aircraft back and hold at macey intersection. Sector above me had numerous aircraft at FL240 (their base) because no one was anticipating hold. I told sector above me to have aircraft X cross macey intersection at FL220. He did but failed to switch the aircraft. Subsequently; I descended aircraft X to FL210 but missed the fact he didn't read it back (exceptionally busy alone on position). When I observed aircraft X out of FL220 (FL219) I used 6-50 of 7110.65 and descended next aircraft to FL220 (numerous aircraft to get into the pattern). Conflict alert went off and I asked aircraft X to 'say his altitude now.' no answer. Called 2 more times; then turned aircraft Y back right and inbound to atl. Aircraft Y was south of aircraft X hold route and behind aircraft got no closer than approximately 3.5 mi.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: ZTL CTLR EXPERIENCED OPERROR AT FL220 WHEN A80 REFUSED ADDITIONAL HDOFS AND FORCED UNEXPECTED HOLDING.
Narrative: WAS RUNNING 5 MI IN TRAIL TO ATL. ATL BELIEVED I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE RUNNING 10 MI IN TRAIL. ATL SHUT DOOR (STOPPED TAKING HANDOFFS). I HAD TO PULL NUMEROUS ACFT BACK AND HOLD AT MACEY INTXN. SECTOR ABOVE ME HAD NUMEROUS ACFT AT FL240 (THEIR BASE) BECAUSE NO ONE WAS ANTICIPATING HOLD. I TOLD SECTOR ABOVE ME TO HAVE ACFT X CROSS MACEY INTXN AT FL220. HE DID BUT FAILED TO SWITCH THE ACFT. SUBSEQUENTLY; I DSNDED ACFT X TO FL210 BUT MISSED THE FACT HE DIDN'T READ IT BACK (EXCEPTIONALLY BUSY ALONE ON POS). WHEN I OBSERVED ACFT X OUT OF FL220 (FL219) I USED 6-50 OF 7110.65 AND DSNDED NEXT ACFT TO FL220 (NUMEROUS ACFT TO GET INTO THE PATTERN). CONFLICT ALERT WENT OFF AND I ASKED ACFT X TO 'SAY HIS ALT NOW.' NO ANSWER. CALLED 2 MORE TIMES; THEN TURNED ACFT Y BACK R AND INBOUND TO ATL. ACFT Y WAS S OF ACFT X HOLD RTE AND BEHIND ACFT GOT NO CLOSER THAN APPROX 3.5 MI.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.