Narrative:

I was vectoring several aircraft for practice approachs to pae. The problem aircraft was in a holding pattern at the VOR. Aircraft was instructed to leave the holding point and proceed north on the 340 degree right for the full procedure. Aircraft made unexpected turns that required revising my plan. When missed approach instructions were issued to aircraft (heading 250 degrees, maintain 2000', pilot read back 3000'), I did not catch the readback because I was watching a VFR aircraft that I was providing flight following to approach a VFR target at same altitude. Pilot of IFR aircraft was telling me a 'story' about what approach he wanted to make next. I wanted him to shut up so I could call traffic for the VFR. Pilots and controllers need to listen more carefully. The missed approach clearance is our standard missed at pae and we get used to people reading back correctly. However, no published missed at pae assigns 3000' and virtually all instructors in the area are familiar with our procedures. However, also, if en route controllers could use terminal rules when providing approach services, many 'deals' would be eliminated and the airspace better utilized.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ARTCC RADAR CTLR FAILED TO PROVIDE STANDARD SEPARATION BETWEEN 2 ACFT UNDER HIS CONTROL.

Narrative: I WAS VECTORING SEVERAL ACFT FOR PRACTICE APCHS TO PAE. THE PROB ACFT WAS IN A HOLDING PATTERN AT THE VOR. ACFT WAS INSTRUCTED TO LEAVE THE HOLDING POINT AND PROCEED N ON THE 340 DEG R FOR THE FULL PROC. ACFT MADE UNEXPECTED TURNS THAT REQUIRED REVISING MY PLAN. WHEN MISSED APCH INSTRUCTIONS WERE ISSUED TO ACFT (HDG 250 DEGS, MAINTAIN 2000', PLT READ BACK 3000'), I DID NOT CATCH THE READBACK BECAUSE I WAS WATCHING A VFR ACFT THAT I WAS PROVIDING FLT FOLLOWING TO APCH A VFR TARGET AT SAME ALT. PLT OF IFR ACFT WAS TELLING ME A 'STORY' ABOUT WHAT APCH HE WANTED TO MAKE NEXT. I WANTED HIM TO SHUT UP SO I COULD CALL TFC FOR THE VFR. PLTS AND CTLRS NEED TO LISTEN MORE CAREFULLY. THE MISSED APCH CLRNC IS OUR STANDARD MISSED AT PAE AND WE GET USED TO PEOPLE READING BACK CORRECTLY. HOWEVER, NO PUBLISHED MISSED AT PAE ASSIGNS 3000' AND VIRTUALLY ALL INSTRUCTORS IN THE AREA ARE FAMILIAR WITH OUR PROCS. HOWEVER, ALSO, IF ENRTE CTLRS COULD USE TERMINAL RULES WHEN PROVIDING APCH SVCS, MANY 'DEALS' WOULD BE ELIMINATED AND THE AIRSPACE BETTER UTILIZED.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.