Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 26
Other / Unknown; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation - Speed All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance
Procedure; Human Factors; Company Policy; Airspace Structure
ZKC called us and requested control for turns and speed assignment on Aircraft Y.  We released it.  Aircraft Y was a 'flash through' to us from ZDV to ZKC at 37000 feet. We noticed that ZDV had just handed off Aircraft X and Aircraft Z to ZKC both at 37000 feet. Aircraft X was out front of all three aircraft and the slowest of the three. ZKC had to speed Aircraft X up max forward; and turned Aircraft Z 20 degrees right so they could turn Aircraft Y 20 degrees right and slow him down as much as practical. The turn on Aircraft Y was not working so they had to climb him to 38000 feet; wrong altitude for direction of flight; to keep separation!  All of this occurred within 15 miles from ZDV airspace. All three aircraft had come from the same ZDV sector. Decertify all ZDV 'controllers' and close ZDV for a week to run simulation problems for much needed retraining. Let the adjacent centers CONTROL the aircraft that would normally be 'observed' by the inadequate employees at ZDV.
ZMP Center Controller reported approving point-outs of three in trail aircraft and noticed the fastest aircraft was overtaking the slower aircraft. The aircraft had to be turned and climbed to a new altitude to maintain separation.