Center Controllers reported operational difficulties; holding and congestion in various sectors resulting from changing weather.
Synopsis
Center Controllers reported operational difficulties; holding and congestion in various sectors resulting from changing weather.
Narrative
On Date around XA:25 local; I was training a D-side. I told the D-side to back up and let me take over due to the volume of traffic. We were told by our FLM to SLOW ALL traffic into Jacksonville Center. I told the R-side and we began to slow each aircraft back. Four minutes later; J34 sector called to tell us they were not taking any more aircraft and to hold them all. J33 and J50 sectors in ZJX were soon to follow. The R-side had to issue 13 different present position holds while working normal traffic in between. Aircraft X was given holding instructions at FL330. Aircraft Y was southbound over the ATL VOR and in line to get their holding instructions. The R-side and myself were busy with other aircraft when conflict alert went off between the two aircraft. The R-side issued immediate turns to both aircraft to prevent a serious incident; but they did end up losing standard separation at 4.48 miles and the same altitude. With Jacksonville Center shutting us off on all traffic going southbound; I'm surprised this was the only loss of separation that happened. Neither J33 or J34 had aircraft holding in their sectors at the time. This has become a systemic problem with both Traffic Management and Jacksonville Center. I recommend that the NAS start treating every major airport in Florida as they do Chicago/New York/Atlanta arrivals in terms of spacing off the ground. The lack of controlling expertise in ZJX this summer; if this continues; will likely lead to more of these situations or worse.
Second reporter narrative
Jacksonville Center shut us off for ALL southbound traffic. At that moment; I would estimate that we had; Area wide; upwards of 50 aircraft. We had spent the morning accommodating them with whatever they asked for; knowing that there was weather cutting across Florida. We slowed aircraft down; we held individual aircraft and we tucked aircraft at or below FL230 at ZJX's request. They still ended up shutting us off. I had 6 sectors open at the time; and paged the two I had left in the break board back. I'm fairly certain we had at least one operational error; simply because we were holding every single aircraft that was flying southbound. This is occurring too often. It is an unsafe operation. I am convinced that the only reason no midair's occurred was due to the professionalism of our controllers at ZTL. The only scenario I've ever seen in my entire career worse than this was the eclipse day in Area 3. If ZJX continues to operate in the manner that they are accustomed to; pilots are going to die. Mark my words on that.The Command Center needs to be more proactive about realizing when airports will be unable to take traffic and ground stop those airports in a timely manner. I shut off ATL south departures long before TMU or the Command Center considered taking that action. ZJX TMU should have made that call LONG before I had to. There is a constant disconnect between what the ZJX supervisors are telling me and what ZJX TMU is telling our TMU. The communication internally at ZJX is appalling. I don't know whether it's the area supervisors not talking to their TMU; or TMU not doing their job; but their lack of communication inside their own center is probably 90 percent of the problem. What happened today has happened more than once this year; and it is completely unnecessary. If they would simply communicate their needs to each other and to us; scenarios like this would not occur.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.