ZDC ARTCC controller reported that an aircraft needed to perform a rapid descent through the altitud...

Attributes
ACN	1467290
Time
Date	201707
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	ZDC.ARTCC
State Reference	VA
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Small Transport Low Wing 2 Turbojet Eng
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Descent
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Large Transport Low Wing 2 Turbojet Eng
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Cruise
Route In Use	Vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Enroute
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Experience	Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 3
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe Conflict Airborne Conflict Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

Narrative:

Sector 39 was working aircraft X at FL350 when he [advised of] a pressurization problem. The controller immediately requested I turn aircraft Y out of the way so aircraft X could descend. I did this and the 39 controller cleared the aircraft down through the altitude of aircraft Y once it became clear the aircraft were established on different courses. Traffic was called to aircraft Y shortly after turning him.this is something I've worried about in the past; if an aircraft needs to descend immediately; do we officially clear him through another aircraft? Call the traffic and say; do what you want? I would like guidance on what we need to do to help the pilots but also keep ourselves out of trouble.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZDC ARTCC Controller reported that an aircraft needed to perform a rapid descent through the altitude and proximity of another IFR aircraft.

Narrative: Sector 39 was working Aircraft X at FL350 when he [advised of] a pressurization problem. The controller immediately requested I turn Aircraft Y out of the way so Aircraft X could descend. I did this and the 39 Controller cleared the aircraft down through the altitude of Aircraft Y once it became clear the aircraft were established on different courses. Traffic was called to Aircraft Y shortly after turning him.This is something I've worried about in the past; if an aircraft needs to descend immediately; do we officially clear him through another aircraft? Call the traffic and say; do what you want? I would like guidance on what we need to do to help the pilots but also keep ourselves out of trouble.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.

ZDC ARTCC controller reported that an aircraft needed to perform a rapid descent through the altitude and proximity of another IFR aircraft.