B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types
General None Reported / Taken
Procedure; Weather; Airspace Structure; Human Factors
There are two transitions on the GEELA arrival into PHX; both of which start in ZLA. Both transitions have very small corridors between restricted areas and Special Use Airspaces (SUAs). The BLH transition (or the north transition) on a perfect day has a 35 NM corridor and the BZA transition (the southern transition) has a nine NM corridor. Also; these corridors are used heavily by PHX/P50 satellite/TUS/ELP departures as well as southern tier over flights. On this day thunderstorms were impacting alternately; and sometimes concurrently; both transitions. Several aircraft just missed the north side of R2307 and the decision was made to move four aircraft on the West Coast of California to the Northwest corner post of PHX on the MAIER arrival. To be sure; weather was impacting the MAIER arrival but military airspace had been recalled and the aircraft that normally come from ZLA on the MAIER were deviating but making it through the cells. The PHX TMC Coordinator called ZLA several times to have the four listed aircraft moved. ZLA refused to move the aircraft and the protected airspace of R2307 may or may not have been deviated. CAR 40 does not seem to be taken seriously. When SUAs are on the boundary of two centers; it should be self-evident; plans should be jointly made about how the day might proceed. Currently; at ZAB there are at least three directives regarding recalling military airspace that say disparate things. Not all agencies are included in the directives. TMCs are not given the results of the Telecons and so cannot pre-plan. Adjacent Centers must comply with routing restrictions to keep aircraft out of restricted areas.
A ZAB TMU specialist voiced concern that requests from traffic management regarding routing's and weather impacts are not sufficiently considered during CAR 40 Telecons relaying an unsafe situation involving PHX arrivals.