Enroute Controllers described an unsafe condition resulting from traffic being assigned non published holding patterns and aircraft making wrong direction turns. The reporters recommended holding locations further out.
Synopsis
Enroute Controllers described an unsafe condition resulting from traffic being assigned non published holding patterns and aircraft making wrong direction turns. The reporters recommended holding locations further out.
Narrative
I was relieving the RADAR Controller. During the recorded briefing; we noticed that a B747 was making a right turn in a hold instead of a left turn which was expected. The B747 was descending to 170; and a B737 was on a vector to the left of the aircraft holding for a major airport. That vector should have kept the aircraft separated laterally if the B747 pilot had made left turns in the hold. Instead; with the right turn made; the B737 needed a much bigger vector to the left. It was a confusing situation for the pilots and controllers because they had to hold at a random point instead of the published hold at the VOR due to weather. The RADAR Controller had been working by himself and the traffic was more complex and unusual than it normally is with the same amount of planes on a night without weather. [I] recommend; when the weather is moving in at a major airport; start re-routing the arrivals to that airport to the west much earlier. That way; planes wouldn't get stuck holding on the east side of weather that is moving to the east.
Second reporter narrative
I was holding ZZZ arrivals 25 east of ZZZ VOR. The published hold was not suitable for weather. B747 was issued holding with left turns. B737 was a ZZZ1 arrival from the west that was re-routed ZZZ VOR due to weather and my holding pattern. B737 was assigned FL190 after passing ZZZ VOR. B747 was assigned holding and a descent from FL240 to 170 thousand. When B747 was at the ZZZ VOR 25 mile fix; he turned to the right at FL190 descending in conflict with B737. I initiated a turn to the left on B747 and a turn to the left for B737. Prior to the event; the another sector and I were scrambling to get ZZZ1; and one ZZZ2 arrivals down and around the weather and adjacent airspace. The ZZZ1 arrivals were well north of the normal arrival route. We discussed having them routed to the northern ZZZ1 arrival route. It was apparent that ZZZ1 Center and adjacent sector were scrambling as well. Having the arrivals re-routed did not seem possible since the adjacent sectors were not answering the landlines at times. Neither the other sector or myself had a d-side and the FLM was just standing in the middle of the area for the most part. All 4 sectors in the area were scrambling at the same time and only one d-side was staffed. Having the majority of the traffic in non-standard routes; and coordination difficult between sectors made it difficult for me to catch the wrong turn in time. It was caught very soon after the wrong turn; but not in time.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.