During descent into gso, in ZTL airspace, a C650 crew was instructed to make a 360 degree turn for i...

Attributes
ACN	618969
Time
Date	200405
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	intersection : traks
Altitude	msl bound lower : 11000 msl bound upper : 24000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl.artcc
Make Model Name	Citation III, VI, VII
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	arrival star : brook
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 5700 flight time type : 400
ASRS Report	618969
Person 2
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	non adherence other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance controller : separated traffic
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

We were descending on the brook 2 arrival into gso (out of FL240 down to 11000 ft). At approximately 20 mi from traks intersection, center advised us to 'reverse course.' a query for clarification confirmed the command. We turned 180 degrees, then we're asked to continue turning for a full 360 degrees to reintercept the arrival with a 11000 ft crossing altitude at traks. During our turn, I asked ATC why we were asked to reverse our course and the controller responded that we had run out of airspace and altitude in order to have an adequate separation before handing us to the next sector. We could only assume a controller error, or an unadvised traffic conflict.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DURING DSCNT INTO GSO, IN ZTL AIRSPACE, A C650 CREW WAS INSTRUCTED TO MAKE A 360 DEG TURN FOR IN-TRAIL SPACING.

Narrative: WE WERE DSNDING ON THE BROOK 2 ARR INTO GSO (OUT OF FL240 DOWN TO 11000 FT). AT APPROX 20 MI FROM TRAKS INTXN, CTR ADVISED US TO 'REVERSE COURSE.' A QUERY FOR CLARIFICATION CONFIRMED THE COMMAND. WE TURNED 180 DEGS, THEN WE'RE ASKED TO CONTINUE TURNING FOR A FULL 360 DEGS TO REINTERCEPT THE ARR WITH A 11000 FT XING ALT AT TRAKS. DURING OUR TURN, I ASKED ATC WHY WE WERE ASKED TO REVERSE OUR COURSE AND THE CTLR RESPONDED THAT WE HAD RUN OUT OF AIRSPACE AND ALT IN ORDER TO HAVE AN ADEQUATE SEPARATION BEFORE HANDING US TO THE NEXT SECTOR. WE COULD ONLY ASSUME A CTLR ERROR, OR AN UNADVISED TFC CONFLICT.

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.

During descent into gso, in ZTL airspace, a C650 crew was instructed to make a 360 degree turn for in-trail spacing.