Narrative:

At the time of this incident the controller was working 13 aircraft (on frequency). When the controller attempted to maintain sep by turning both aircraft and descending 1 aircraft to a lower altitude, the aircraft being turned and descended took an extra 20 seconds to deliberately question the clearance, 'let me see, do you want me to des to fl 2-9-0 and turn 30 degrees to the left?' the controller then had to repeat the clearance such that by the time this aircraft reported level at FL290 sep had been lost. Although the aim states that ATC clrncs should be complied with as 'expediciously as possible,' in far too many instances controllers not only have to state the clearance but they have to explain the clearance. If pilots want service, they should give compliance to ATC clrncs their best priority. Supplemental information from acn 81668: this controller had just become fpl.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LESS THAN STANDARD SEPARATION BETWEEN 2 ACR'S AT HIGH ALT, OPPOSITE DIRECTION.

Narrative: AT THE TIME OF THIS INCIDENT THE CTLR WAS WORKING 13 ACFT (ON FREQ). WHEN THE CTLR ATTEMPTED TO MAINTAIN SEP BY TURNING BOTH ACFT AND DSNDING 1 ACFT TO A LOWER ALT, THE ACFT BEING TURNED AND DESCENDED TOOK AN EXTRA 20 SECS TO DELIBERATELY QUESTION THE CLRNC, 'LET ME SEE, DO YOU WANT ME TO DES TO FL 2-9-0 AND TURN 30 DEGS TO THE LEFT?' THE CTLR THEN HAD TO REPEAT THE CLRNC SUCH THAT BY THE TIME THIS ACFT RPTED LEVEL AT FL290 SEP HAD BEEN LOST. ALTHOUGH THE AIM STATES THAT ATC CLRNCS SHOULD BE COMPLIED WITH AS 'EXPEDICIOUSLY AS POSSIBLE,' IN FAR TOO MANY INSTANCES CTLRS NOT ONLY HAVE TO STATE THE CLRNC BUT THEY HAVE TO EXPLAIN THE CLRNC. IF PLTS WANT SVC, THEY SHOULD GIVE COMPLIANCE TO ATC CLRNCS THEIR BEST PRIORITY. SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION FROM ACN 81668: THIS CTLR HAD JUST BECOME FPL.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.