Narrative:

I was training a developmental on south arrival. We were giving a position briefing to the controller replacing us. During the briefing; my trainee properly briefed the relieving controller that aircraft X; southeast bound; had been told to descend and maintain 9;000. This aircraft was landing in grr airspace and the LOA between our facilities states we will have IFR landers to them descending to or level at 7;000. Due to crossing IFR traffic aircraft Y level at 8;000 westbound approximately 20 miles southeast of aircraft X; the controller relieving us stated 'descend aircraft X to 7;000 now;' apparently thinking aircraft X needed to continue the decent to get below aircraft Y. Due to the fact the relieving controller was ready to assume the position; my trainee did as instructed and told aircraft X to descend and maintain 7;000. The pilot acknowledged these instructions and we quickly finished the briefing and got off position. I continued to monitor as required. Approximately 2 minutes later the controller realized that separation would be lost if no one was turned; so he told aircraft X to turn left heading 090. By this time aircraft X was very close to the boundary with grr but they had taken the hand off so no airspace violation occurred. When aircraft X reported at 7;000 the controller told them to proceed on course and contact grr approach. Recommendation; when a controller is being relieved and is giving the relief briefing; and the relieving controller tells them to give instructions to a pilot it would be best to say; 'you will need to do that when you get on position.'

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MKG Controller providing OJT described a less than clear relief briefing event when the controller taking the position directed the developmental being relieved to issue a descent clearance.

Narrative: I was training a Developmental on South Arrival. We were giving a position briefing to the controller replacing us. During the briefing; my trainee properly briefed the relieving controller that Aircraft X; southeast bound; had been told to descend and maintain 9;000. This aircraft was landing in GRR Airspace and the LOA between our facilities states we will have IFR landers to them descending to or level at 7;000. Due to crossing IFR traffic Aircraft Y level at 8;000 westbound approximately 20 miles southeast of Aircraft X; the controller relieving us stated 'descend Aircraft X to 7;000 now;' apparently thinking Aircraft X needed to continue the decent to get below Aircraft Y. Due to the fact the relieving controller was ready to assume the position; my trainee did as instructed and told Aircraft X to descend and maintain 7;000. The pilot acknowledged these instructions and we quickly finished the briefing and got off position. I continued to monitor as required. Approximately 2 minutes later the controller realized that separation would be lost if no one was turned; so he told Aircraft X to turn left heading 090. By this time Aircraft X was very close to the boundary with GRR but they had taken the hand off so no airspace violation occurred. When Aircraft X reported at 7;000 the controller told them to proceed on course and contact GRR approach. Recommendation; when a controller is being relieved and is giving the relief briefing; and the relieving controller tells them to give instructions to a pilot it would be best to say; 'You will need to do that when you get on position.'

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.