Narrative:

I was the captain on air carrier X, bos to mia. We were holding at the published pattern at cce on the collier 2 arrival into mia at FL260. The incident took place at XX00Z. We had entered holding at FL240, then given a climb to FL250, then later, to FL260. During this time the controller was giving an efc to all aircraft in the pattern of XX05Z. I thought this was rather strange as I had always observed each aircraft receiving an individual time. As we were inbound on holding (10 mi legs over the VOR) the controller issued a descent clearance to an air carrier Y flight to FL250. I thought this strange as we should have been next to FL250. I asked the controller if he was handling any other holding patterns. He said no. Now, as we were heading outbound (west) I told him we were at FL260 and wouldn't we be next to FL250. After a brief pause, another voice came over the radio telling us to turn immediately to a heading of 180 (south and away from the holding pattern). We held this heading for about 1 min, then were given a heading of 270, parallel to the outbound leg of the pattern for about 2 mins, then were given a turn to 360, then a turn to join the inbound leg of the pattern of the VOR. In my opinion, the controller descended the air carrier Y through our altitude block. As they were only 10 mi legs, we most likely were very close as the vector away from the pattern. The controller never made mention of the possibility of a near miss, however, another controller's voice indicated something was amiss. Even though you can't see aircraft, it's good to listen up on the radio and make a mental picture of the aircraft around you, i.e., holding, on approach, etc.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR CAPT RPTS ARTCC CONFUSION AS ACFT ARE HOLDING AT CCE FOR ARR INTO MIA. HE SUSPECTS LTSS WITH OTHER ACFT THOUGHT TO BE IN THE PATTERN. SEE ACN #191235.

Narrative: I WAS THE CAPT ON ACR X, BOS TO MIA. WE WERE HOLDING AT THE PUBLISHED PATTERN AT CCE ON THE COLLIER 2 ARR INTO MIA AT FL260. THE INCIDENT TOOK PLACE AT XX00Z. WE HAD ENTERED HOLDING AT FL240, THEN GIVEN A CLB TO FL250, THEN LATER, TO FL260. DURING THIS TIME THE CTLR WAS GIVING AN EFC TO ALL ACFT IN THE PATTERN OF XX05Z. I THOUGHT THIS WAS RATHER STRANGE AS I HAD ALWAYS OBSERVED EACH ACFT RECEIVING AN INDIVIDUAL TIME. AS WE WERE INBOUND ON HOLDING (10 MI LEGS OVER THE VOR) THE CTLR ISSUED A DSCNT CLRNC TO AN ACR Y FLT TO FL250. I THOUGHT THIS STRANGE AS WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN NEXT TO FL250. I ASKED THE CTLR IF HE WAS HANDLING ANY OTHER HOLDING PATTERNS. HE SAID NO. NOW, AS WE WERE HDG OUTBOUND (W) I TOLD HIM WE WERE AT FL260 AND WOULDN'T WE BE NEXT TO FL250. AFTER A BRIEF PAUSE, ANOTHER VOICE CAME OVER THE RADIO TELLING US TO TURN IMMEDIATELY TO A HDG OF 180 (S AND AWAY FROM THE HOLDING PATTERN). WE HELD THIS HDG FOR ABOUT 1 MIN, THEN WERE GIVEN A HDG OF 270, PARALLEL TO THE OUTBOUND LEG OF THE PATTERN FOR ABOUT 2 MINS, THEN WERE GIVEN A TURN TO 360, THEN A TURN TO JOIN THE INBOUND LEG OF THE PATTERN OF THE VOR. IN MY OPINION, THE CTLR DSNDED THE ACR Y THROUGH OUR ALT BLOCK. AS THEY WERE ONLY 10 MI LEGS, WE MOST LIKELY WERE VERY CLOSE AS THE VECTOR AWAY FROM THE PATTERN. THE CTLR NEVER MADE MENTION OF THE POSSIBILITY OF A NEAR MISS, HOWEVER, ANOTHER CTLR'S VOICE INDICATED SOMETHING WAS AMISS. EVEN THOUGH YOU CAN'T SEE ACFT, IT'S GOOD TO LISTEN UP ON THE RADIO AND MAKE A MENTAL PICTURE OF THE ACFT AROUND YOU, I.E., HOLDING, ON APCH, ETC.

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.