Narrative:

The problem basically is the # and types of aircraft a single controller works in a short period (10-20 mins) of time. There are 2 problems within this problem. 1) jets on top of fast turboprops, different altitudes, same speed. 2) hourly acceptance rate versus actual flow of aircraft. Problem: 1) the letter of agreement between memphis tower and memphis center states how jet and turboprops enter memphis tower airspace. Because of the 'hub' concept there are fast turboprops (ltts, etc.) that feed xyz airlines from other airports. We controllers get a lot of these aircraft on top of each other and have to space them out to land at memphis. When you get 2 or 3 double-ups plus other traffic that you are vectoring to a final controller all in a 20-30 min period there is potential for trouble. We are not talking about 6 aircraft. We are talking 1 controller working 25-35 in a 20-30 min period. Management will not address this. Problem: 2) as discussed above, we have an hourly acceptance rate, however, most of the aircraft at a time come over 2 fixes in a 20-30 min period. 2 arrival controllers each have 2 fixes. We work the hourly rate in 20-30 mins. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter stated that he had 10 yrs radar experience. He said that along with the ASRS submission 1 controller had written to his congressman regarding the flow problem at mem. As the result, southern regional office sent a team from the quality assurance office to evaluate the facility. Their findings were that the facility was doing everything possible to manage the traffic. He believes this was a cover up. The regional office folks whitewashed the problem. He stated that situation was much better. He was advised of the administrator's hotline and the ucr process.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLOW MGMNT PROBLEM.

Narrative: THE PROBLEM BASICALLY IS THE # AND TYPES OF ACFT A SINGLE CTLR WORKS IN A SHORT PERIOD (10-20 MINS) OF TIME. THERE ARE 2 PROBLEMS WITHIN THIS PROBLEM. 1) JETS ON TOP OF FAST TURBOPROPS, DIFFERENT ALTS, SAME SPEED. 2) HOURLY ACCEPTANCE RATE VERSUS ACTUAL FLOW OF ACFT. PROBLEM: 1) THE LETTER OF AGREEMENT BTWN MEMPHIS TWR AND MEMPHIS CENTER STATES HOW JET AND TURBOPROPS ENTER MEMPHIS TWR AIRSPACE. BECAUSE OF THE 'HUB' CONCEPT THERE ARE FAST TURBOPROPS (LTTS, ETC.) THAT FEED XYZ AIRLINES FROM OTHER ARPTS. WE CTLRS GET A LOT OF THESE ACFT ON TOP OF EACH OTHER AND HAVE TO SPACE THEM OUT TO LAND AT MEMPHIS. WHEN YOU GET 2 OR 3 DOUBLE-UPS PLUS OTHER TFC THAT YOU ARE VECTORING TO A FINAL CTLR ALL IN A 20-30 MIN PERIOD THERE IS POTENTIAL FOR TROUBLE. WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT 6 ACFT. WE ARE TALKING 1 CTLR WORKING 25-35 IN A 20-30 MIN PERIOD. MGMNT WILL NOT ADDRESS THIS. PROBLEM: 2) AS DISCUSSED ABOVE, WE HAVE AN HOURLY ACCEPTANCE RATE, HOWEVER, MOST OF THE ACFT AT A TIME COME OVER 2 FIXES IN A 20-30 MIN PERIOD. 2 ARR CTLRS EACH HAVE 2 FIXES. WE WORK THE HOURLY RATE IN 20-30 MINS. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION: RPTR STATED THAT HE HAD 10 YRS RADAR EXPERIENCE. HE SAID THAT ALONG WITH THE ASRS SUBMISSION 1 CTLR HAD WRITTEN TO HIS CONGRESSMAN REGARDING THE FLOW PROBLEM AT MEM. AS THE RESULT, SOUTHERN REGIONAL OFFICE SENT A TEAM FROM THE QUALITY ASSURANCE OFFICE TO EVALUATE THE FAC. THEIR FINDINGS WERE THAT THE FACILITY WAS DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO MANAGE THE TFC. HE BELIEVES THIS WAS A COVER UP. THE REGIONAL OFFICE FOLKS WHITEWASHED THE PROBLEM. HE STATED THAT SITUATION WAS MUCH BETTER. HE WAS ADVISED OF THE ADMINISTRATOR'S HOTLINE AND THE UCR PROCESS.

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.