ZNY controller described event when information regarding falling space debris was not coordinated i...

Narrative:

At approximately XB20Z an air carrier flight in the R86/atlantic sector requested a reroute away from anver intersection. The pilot advised that his dispatch had informed him of a norad warning for falling space debris in the vicinity of anver intersection (180 DME off of the bermuda VOR; northwest corner). None of the controllers responsible for this airspace were aware of the impending event. There were numerous eastbound/westbound aircraft (european flow) and additional northbound/southbound aircraft (caribbean/east coast flow) in the vicinity of anver intersection. The front line managers were scrambling in an attempt to find the information that the pilot was referring to. Right after this information was received (within 2 minutes) the front line manager received a call that the debris had splashed down earlier and was no longer a factor. The controller received the information 30 minutes after the debris had hit the water. This notice appears to have been sent out by the command center at XA48Z. There would have been ample time to reroute the aircraft or at least notify the air crews of the event. Instead; the controllers who needed the information did not receive it until 1 hour later and 30 minutes too late.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZNY Controller described event when information regarding falling space debris was not coordinated in a timely manner; resulting in aircraft being routed through the subject area.

Narrative: At approximately XB20Z an air carrier flight in the R86/Atlantic Sector requested a reroute away from ANVER Intersection. The Pilot advised that his Dispatch had informed him of a NORAD warning for falling space debris in the vicinity of ANVER Intersection (180 DME off of the Bermuda VOR; northwest corner). None of the Controllers responsible for this airspace were aware of the impending event. There were numerous eastbound/westbound aircraft (European flow) and additional northbound/southbound aircraft (Caribbean/East Coast flow) in the vicinity of ANVER Intersection. The Front Line Managers were scrambling in an attempt to find the information that the Pilot was referring to. Right after this information was received (within 2 minutes) the Front Line Manager received a call that the debris had splashed down earlier and was no longer a factor. The Controller received the information 30 minutes after the debris had hit the water. This notice appears to have been sent out by the Command Center at XA48Z. There would have been ample time to reroute the aircraft or at least notify the air crews of the event. Instead; the controllers who needed the information did not receive it until 1 hour later and 30 minutes too late.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.

Attributes
ACN	825593
Time
Date	200903
Place
Locale Reference	ZNY.ARTCC
State Reference	NY
Person 1
Function	Enroute
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Experience	Air Traffic Control Non Radar 20 Air Traffic Control Radar 18
Events
Anomaly	Other Failed Coord

ZNY controller described event when information regarding falling space debris was not coordinated in a timely manner; resulting in aircraft being routed through the subject area.