Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 5
Troubleshooting; Situational Awareness; Confusion; Distraction; Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Speed All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Air Traffic Control Separated Traffic
Procedure; Human Factors
I was working the Rocket sector when I was told by my supervisor to give Aircraft X 'Slowest practical speed'. I have seen tremendous safety issues with this over the last few months so I asked; 'From Traffic Management Unit (TMU)? Is he following someone?' The supervisor responded with 'I don't know'. I called TMU from the console and asked what the speed was for and they told me it was to help with spacing to DFW behind Aircraft Y. At the time Aircraft Y was in Gadsden sector's (R3) airspace and Aircraft X was entering the same airspace. I told him I would make sure Gadsden knew to provide the required spacing. I did. I told my supervisor that I wasn't going to give the speed and voiced my concern about the extremely dangerous situation that can be created when TMU gives control instructions without seeing the traffic picture. He responded with; 'I don't care; its above my pay grade.'  I will continue to report this situation. It is extremely dangerous for TMU to give control instructions from the front. It is also dangerous to have a supervisory culture that is flippant about safety issues that are brought to their attention in good faith. TMU should never give separation instructions to a controller regarding two aircraft in the same  or adjacent sectors. They are not controllers; they are coordinators.  I have seen several near deals/collisions from these instructions being sent out. It also is a tremendous disservice to the pilots and flying public. If TMU says 'give [Any] Aircraft slowest practical' and I give it; it may be 4 or 5 sectors or more before someone questions it and resumes the aircraft. Meanwhile; you have slowed an aircraft to Mach .62 for 300 miles and delayed the flight. Further; by doing this; you cause a ripple effect that can delay the entire air carrier for the day. I am not saying it isn't feasible every once in a while but this is happening daily.  Several times per day.
ZTL Controller reports of being told by  Front Line Manager (FLM) to slow a specific aircraft to the slowest practical speed. Controller doesn't do this and coordinates with another sector.  Controller states Traffic Management Unit (TMU) should not be giving control instructions.