Narrative:

ZBW assumes control of pvd approach airspace at XA00 every evening. The boston ARTCC supervisor looked at the projected number of pvd arrs and determined the pvd approach should stay open until XA30 because there were no arrs projected for after XA30. The sector was very busy because of WX moving from west to east across the sector. The winds at pvd were 220 degrees at 20 KTS gusting to 50 KTS. The NOTAMS for the pvd airport showed runway 5/23 closed until XA30. Runway 34 (ILS) or runway 16 (VOR approach) was opened. After XA30 there were 7 to 8 arrs to pvd. A pilot didn't want to land runway 34. He stated he was talking to the tower cabin attendant at pvd and they 'tower cabin attendant' would keep runway 23 open for the aircraft. This caused much confusion because the tower had closed at XA30. The aircraft was talking to airport operations. Finally; the manager from ZBW was able to contact airport operations at pvd and was told the runway 5/23 would remain open for all pvd arrs. I felt uncomfortable clearing these pvd arrs onto runway 23 (ILS) because of the confusion and the misread predicted arrs to pvd by the boston supervisor. The approach control should have remained open until at least XA00. They are the ones who can provide a better service when WX is involved. Clearly there was a breakdown in communication procedures between management; pvd approach and incorrect information regarding NOTAMS.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZBW CTLR EXPRESSED CONCERN REGARDING EXISTING PROCS USED DURING TAKEOVER OF PVD AIRSPACE; SUGGESTING PVD REMAIN OPEN UNTIL ARR'S LAND.

Narrative: ZBW ASSUMES CTL OF PVD APCH AIRSPACE AT XA00 EVERY EVENING. THE BOSTON ARTCC SUPVR LOOKED AT THE PROJECTED NUMBER OF PVD ARRS AND DETERMINED THE PVD APCH SHOULD STAY OPEN UNTIL XA30 BECAUSE THERE WERE NO ARRS PROJECTED FOR AFTER XA30. THE SECTOR WAS VERY BUSY BECAUSE OF WX MOVING FROM W TO E ACROSS THE SECTOR. THE WINDS AT PVD WERE 220 DEGS AT 20 KTS GUSTING TO 50 KTS. THE NOTAMS FOR THE PVD ARPT SHOWED RWY 5/23 CLOSED UNTIL XA30. RWY 34 (ILS) OR RWY 16 (VOR APCH) WAS OPENED. AFTER XA30 THERE WERE 7 TO 8 ARRS TO PVD. A PLT DIDN'T WANT TO LAND RWY 34. HE STATED HE WAS TALKING TO THE TWR CAB AT PVD AND THEY 'TWR CAB' WOULD KEEP RWY 23 OPEN FOR THE ACFT. THIS CAUSED MUCH CONFUSION BECAUSE THE TWR HAD CLOSED AT XA30. THE ACFT WAS TALKING TO ARPT OPS. FINALLY; THE MGR FROM ZBW WAS ABLE TO CONTACT ARPT OPS AT PVD AND WAS TOLD THE RWY 5/23 WOULD REMAIN OPEN FOR ALL PVD ARRS. I FELT UNCOMFORTABLE CLRING THESE PVD ARRS ONTO RWY 23 (ILS) BECAUSE OF THE CONFUSION AND THE MISREAD PREDICTED ARRS TO PVD BY THE BOSTON SUPVR. THE APCH CTL SHOULD HAVE REMAINED OPEN UNTIL AT LEAST XA00. THEY ARE THE ONES WHO CAN PROVIDE A BETTER SVC WHEN WX IS INVOLVED. CLEARLY THERE WAS A BREAKDOWN IN COM PROCS BTWN MGMNT; PVD APCH AND INCORRECT INFO REGARDING NOTAMS.

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.