Narrative:

I accepted the sector at XA10 am; the loss of separation occurred at XA15 am. The d-side (assistant) informed me air carrier X needs to descend into buf. Air carrier X was at FL360 about 10 mi east of syracuse. I descended air carrier X to FL320. An air carrier Y was to the right of air carrier X at FL340. The air carrier Y was turned 30 degrees right. The next clearance was to be 30 degrees left for air carrier X. But the frequency was taken over by a pilot who must have thought he was talking to his 'operations.' when the frequency was available again; the loss of separation had occurred; 35 mi and 600 ft. The military (huntress) was active; one flight was being cleared in; one plane was vectored around military. A pointout occurred at same time off utica; ny; climbing west to FL300; eastbound traffic over syr at FL310. About 2 mins flying time for the air carrier X to reach cleveland's boundary. By the LOA; buf descents are supposed to be level at FL240. Pressure to meet the LOA was a factor; and the pilot tying up the frequency.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZBW CTLR EXPERIENCED OPERROR AT FL340 WHEN UNABLE TO ISSUE SEPARATION TURN BECAUSE OF FREQ CONGESTION.

Narrative: I ACCEPTED THE SECTOR AT XA10 AM; THE LOSS OF SEPARATION OCCURRED AT XA15 AM. THE D-SIDE (ASSISTANT) INFORMED ME ACR X NEEDS TO DSND INTO BUF. ACR X WAS AT FL360 ABOUT 10 MI E OF SYRACUSE. I DSNDED ACR X TO FL320. AN ACR Y WAS TO THE R OF ACR X AT FL340. THE ACR Y WAS TURNED 30 DEGS R. THE NEXT CLRNC WAS TO BE 30 DEGS L FOR ACR X. BUT THE FREQ WAS TAKEN OVER BY A PLT WHO MUST HAVE THOUGHT HE WAS TALKING TO HIS 'OPS.' WHEN THE FREQ WAS AVAILABLE AGAIN; THE LOSS OF SEPARATION HAD OCCURRED; 35 MI AND 600 FT. THE MIL (HUNTRESS) WAS ACTIVE; ONE FLT WAS BEING CLRED IN; ONE PLANE WAS VECTORED AROUND MIL. A POINTOUT OCCURRED AT SAME TIME OFF UTICA; NY; CLBING W TO FL300; EBOUND TFC OVER SYR AT FL310. ABOUT 2 MINS FLYING TIME FOR THE ACR X TO REACH CLEVELAND'S BOUNDARY. BY THE LOA; BUF DESCENTS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE LEVEL AT FL240. PRESSURE TO MEET THE LOA WAS A FACTOR; AND THE PLT TYING UP THE FREQ.

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.