Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Workload; Confusion; Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew FLC complied w / Automation / Advisory; Flight Crew Diverted
Weather; Procedure; Human Factors; Chart Or Publication
Enroute to DEN we got holding at ZPLYN intersection on the BOSSS arrival. Sometime into holding ATC offered the PEEKK arrival with 'minimum' delays. We looked at the option; consulted with dispatch and agreed to stay in holding. While holding; we agreed to change our alternate to CYS. Next was a discussion as to how we could or could not handle an MEL item if diverted to CYS with regards to dispatching CYS-DEN. Then we agreed on a 'bingo' fuel to divert. Upon getting an extended EFC we decided to just go to CYS and refuel. Descending into CYS DEN center said 'Your company does not want you to land in CYS but to return to DIA.' We asked if that meant direct with no delays; they could not guarantee that so I said we'll continue. There actually was some hesitancy on their part. Eventually handed over to CYS approach. They too said it again; [company] does not want you to land at CYS. Conferring with my FO we assumed a problem with the deferral and redispatching out of CYS. Asked again if any delays. In the meantime looking at burn to DEN; weather; etc. CYS app said DEN center offered direct; no delays; no vectors. We switched to DEN center; went direct; declared minimum fuel and landed VFR with FAR reserves plus some.
After holding for another 10-20 minutes the crew advised me they were diverting to CYS. As they were arriving at CYS I noticed their ground track had looped back around towards DEN. I asked the crew are they still planning on going to CYS and they said negative going to DEN. I couldn't imagine why they would do this as we used all of our alternate fuel to get to CYS and now they were flying back to DEN. In the meantime I had a couple people who I did not recognize come to my desk as well as getting multiple phone calls from people I do not know who they were asking what the flight was doing. I do recall one call from [name omitted] at the ATC desk saying 'they requested with DEN center if there was anything they could do to help get the flight into DEN'. After the flight landed with 4;100 pounds remaining the Captain called me; he informed me that during his diversion DEN center told him he was not allowed to land in CYS per company. The Captain said he told them its ok we're continuing to CYS; his next hand off was to Approach who again told him he was not allowed to land in CYS per company so he told me he had to make a tactical decision to divert. I don't blame the captain for making the decision to divert again considering it very well could have been an emergency situation if Dispatch could not get a hold of a flight but in this case he should have verified with me. The issue lies in who called ATC telling them not to let my flight land in CYS. I have heard a manager has tried things like this in the past but this is just word of mouth. If this was in fact a manager making calls like this to ATC they have severely overstepped their boundaries undermining the Captains and my authority over the flight.
Air carrier Captain reported diverting from DEN to CYS because of weather; but was told enroute his company did not want the aircraft to land at CYS. The pilot; without communicating with Dispatch; returned to DEN and landed with fuel above FAR minimum reserves. The flight's Dispatcher did not redirect the flight to DEN. The order back to DEN was issued by an unknown authority within the company.