Narrative:

Received clearance to descend from FL250 to FL240 and switched from ZMP to another ZMP frequency. As we rolled out on our inbound course to eau VOR in a 20 mi hold, another aircraft (either B727 or DC9) was also leveling off at FL240 traveling ssebound. Our inbound course was 303 degrees on the 123 degree radial of eau. We observed the aircraft on TCASII, which was 507 mi and converging. The captain made his check on transmission with msp while I reduced my range to 10 mi on the EFIS screen. Within 30-60 seconds, we received a TA followed by an RA to descend. We were able to visually identify the aircraft in question. At the same time we received an RA, the controller descended the other aircraft first officer FL230 at the same time we were descending per the TA. The controller turned us north on a 360 degree heading. Once clear of conflict, we returned to FL240. I believe there were too many aircraft trying to hold, and avoid WX that was in the area. It was clear that the controllers did not properly coordinate their dscnts, and keep track of who was holding where and deviating at the same time.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A320 FLC WERE STARTLED TO ROLL OUT ON INBOUND HOLDING LEG BY OBSERVING ANOTHER ACFT COMING FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION ALSO IN THE HOLDING PATTERN. RPTRS DSNDED AND THE ARTCC CTLR TURNED THEM TO ANOTHER HDG TO HELP IN SEPARATION.

Narrative: RECEIVED CLRNC TO DSND FROM FL250 TO FL240 AND SWITCHED FROM ZMP TO ANOTHER ZMP FREQ. AS WE ROLLED OUT ON OUR INBOUND COURSE TO EAU VOR IN A 20 MI HOLD, ANOTHER ACFT (EITHER B727 OR DC9) WAS ALSO LEVELING OFF AT FL240 TRAVELING SSEBOUND. OUR INBOUND COURSE WAS 303 DEGS ON THE 123 DEG RADIAL OF EAU. WE OBSERVED THE ACFT ON TCASII, WHICH WAS 507 MI AND CONVERGING. THE CAPT MADE HIS CHK ON XMISSION WITH MSP WHILE I REDUCED MY RANGE TO 10 MI ON THE EFIS SCREEN. WITHIN 30-60 SECONDS, WE RECEIVED A TA FOLLOWED BY AN RA TO DSND. WE WERE ABLE TO VISUALLY IDENT THE ACFT IN QUESTION. AT THE SAME TIME WE RECEIVED AN RA, THE CTLR DSNDED THE OTHER ACFT FO FL230 AT THE SAME TIME WE WERE DSNDING PER THE TA. THE CTLR TURNED US N ON A 360 DEG HDG. ONCE CLR OF CONFLICT, WE RETURNED TO FL240. I BELIEVE THERE WERE TOO MANY ACFT TRYING TO HOLD, AND AVOID WX THAT WAS IN THE AREA. IT WAS CLR THAT THE CTLRS DID NOT PROPERLY COORDINATE THEIR DSCNTS, AND KEEP TRACK OF WHO WAS HOLDING WHERE AND DEVIATING AT THE SAME TIME.

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.