Pbi controller expressed concern regarding facilities traffic management procedures.

Attributes
ACN	691775
Time
Date	200603
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : pbi.airport
State Reference	FL
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller non radar : 2 controller radar : 13 controller time certified in position1 : 5
ASRS Report	691775
Events
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	FAA
Primary Problem	FAA
Situations
ATC Facility	procedure or policy : pbi.tracon

Narrative:

The arrival rate at pbi on a west operation is around 32 aircraft an hour. During this shift; numerous times; we had at least 25 arrs in the airspace at any given time. Due to the fao and flow control; unable to predict this type of saturation. Pbi has become very dangerous and out of control during seasonal traffic. The final was extended 30 mi with both downwinds full when finally the supervisor stopped the arrs and sent ZMA into holding when they were already saturated.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PBI CTLR EXPRESSED CONCERN REGARDING FACILITIES TFC MGMNT PROCS.

Narrative: THE ARR RATE AT PBI ON A W OP IS AROUND 32 ACFT AN HR. DURING THIS SHIFT; NUMEROUS TIMES; WE HAD AT LEAST 25 ARRS IN THE AIRSPACE AT ANY GIVEN TIME. DUE TO THE FAO AND FLOW CTL; UNABLE TO PREDICT THIS TYPE OF SATURATION. PBI HAS BECOME VERY DANGEROUS AND OUT OF CTL DURING SEASONAL TFC. THE FINAL WAS EXTENDED 30 MI WITH BOTH DOWNWINDS FULL WHEN FINALLY THE SUPVR STOPPED THE ARRS AND SENT ZMA INTO HOLDING WHEN THEY WERE ALREADY SATURATED.

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.