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ZTL controller expressed concern regarding air carrier's unannounced speed reduction to conserve fuel that led to separation issues.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 744065 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200706 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : atl.airport |
| State Reference | GA |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 24000 msl bound upper : 27000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : ztl.artcc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | Regional Jet 700 ER&LR |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | descent : intermediate altitude |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : radar |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Experience | controller radar : 14 |
| ASRS Report | 744065 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure |
| Independent Detector | other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : anomaly accepted |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Flight Crew Human Performance Company |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
Air carrier X was inbound to atl when he slowed to 230 KTS without telling ATC. When I noticed his ground speed the r-side questioned the pilot. He said he slowed on his own to 230 KTS to save fuel. We had 10 air carrier's behind him. He was third in line to atl. The in-trail spacing was at 5 mi; so we had about 7 mi between each plane. Having the plane slow in front without telling the controller is unsafe. The FAA needs to address this practice before an accident occurs.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: ZTL CTLR EXPRESSED CONCERN REGARDING ACR'S UNANNOUNCED SPEED REDUCTION TO CONSERVE FUEL THAT LED TO SEPARATION ISSUES.
Narrative: ACR X WAS INBOUND TO ATL WHEN HE SLOWED TO 230 KTS WITHOUT TELLING ATC. WHEN I NOTICED HIS GND SPD THE R-SIDE QUESTIONED THE PLT. HE SAID HE SLOWED ON HIS OWN TO 230 KTS TO SAVE FUEL. WE HAD 10 ACR'S BEHIND HIM. HE WAS THIRD IN LINE TO ATL. THE IN-TRAIL SPACING WAS AT 5 MI; SO WE HAD ABOUT 7 MI BTWN EACH PLANE. HAVING THE PLANE SLOW IN FRONT WITHOUT TELLING THE CTLR IS UNSAFE. THE FAA NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS PRACTICE BEFORE AN ACCIDENT OCCURS.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.