Standard Noise
Sorry old chap, Bristol got hit by the deadly X-flow procedure. This was put on by the off-going night watch. All hell broke loose at 0700 local.
What is the X-flow?.......well it is a genuine flow procedure for a start......absolutely hated by operational controllers but loved by supervisors and flow managers. The sector is flowed to capacity plus 10% with short term overload of 30-40%....but aerodrome departures within the sector are completely excluded [ hence X].
The operational sector team are advised to issue clearances to aerodromes on a tactical basis thereby absolving "flow" of any responsibility. Unfortunately it may be necessary to stop all such flights for an indefinite period if there is just no space available, and on the 20th there wasn't.
With your help we can ban this procedure, we've tried and we can't.....management love it!