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Corporate pilot with ZMA expressed concern regarding the controller's performance; attributed to the controller operating multiple frequencies simultaneously with all aircraft having difficulty understanding instructions.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 962892 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201108 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201-1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZMA.ARTCC |
| State Reference | FL |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | PC-12 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | Descent |
| Route In Use | Vectors STAR CURSO 2 |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Single Pilot |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Flight Instructor Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 120 Flight Crew Total 12189 Flight Crew Type 3569 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | ATC Issue All Types |
Narrative:
While flying the sscot 1 arrival into tmb; ATC changed our arrival routing to fly direct to kartr intersection; then to eyw and join curso 2 arrival because of weather. Shortly after this change; we were directed to contact miami center. We heard the ATC controller very stressed out issuing clearances and instructions to too many aircraft and at one point; he started requesting patience from everybody because he was working 'seven frequencies at the same time'. What followed after this was a complete chaos on the frequency because everybody was calling at the same time; blocking each other; trying to get their needs done; like turning to avoid weather; descend and so forth. The controller ignored several calls; not only from us; but from some other aircraft he was handling. All of the sudden; the weather was not a factor anymore and we ended up just 46 NM north east of eyw in clear weather and in perfect position to proceed to our destination. I kept calling ATC; but he ignored my calls several times until he finally gave me clearance to fly direct to the airport. This is not the first time a similar situation happens. FAA is understaffed and this scenario could be very dangerous at certain point. This is a potential disaster just waiting to happen.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: Corporate pilot with ZMA expressed concern regarding the controller's performance; attributed to the controller operating multiple frequencies simultaneously with all aircraft having difficulty understanding instructions.
Narrative: While flying the SSCOT 1 arrival into TMB; ATC changed our arrival routing to fly direct to KARTR Intersection; then to EYW and join CURSO 2 arrival because of weather. Shortly after this change; we were directed to contact Miami Center. We heard the ATC Controller very stressed out issuing clearances and instructions to too many aircraft and at one point; he started requesting patience from everybody because he was working 'SEVEN FREQUENCIES AT THE SAME TIME'. What followed after this was a complete chaos on the frequency because everybody was calling at the same time; blocking each other; trying to get their needs done; like turning to avoid weather; descend and so forth. The Controller ignored several calls; not only from us; but from some other aircraft he was handling. All of the sudden; the weather was not a factor anymore and we ended up just 46 NM north east of EYW in clear weather and in perfect position to proceed to our destination. I kept calling ATC; but he ignored my calls several times until he finally gave me clearance to fly direct to the airport. This is not the first time a similar situation happens. FAA is understaffed and this scenario could be very dangerous at certain point. This is a potential disaster just waiting to happen.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.