Date: 201503
Local time of day: 1801-2400
Location: ZJX.ARTCC, FL
Light: Night
Aircraft: Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight plan: IFR
Flight phase: Descent
Airspace: Class A ZJX
ATC / advisory: Center ZJX
Reporter organization: Government
Reporter function: Enroute
Reporter qualification: Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Human factors: Troubleshooting; Distraction; Situational Awareness; Confusion; Communication Breakdown
Anomaly: ATC Issue All Types; Airspace Violation All Types; Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Detector: Person Air Traffic Control
When detected: In-flight
Result: Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance
Contributing factors: Airspace Structure; Human Factors; Procedure
Primary problem: Procedure

Narrative: Washington Center (ZDC) had a southbound aircraft at FL360; Jacksonville Center (ZJX) R51 (Knemo) had an aircraft that ZDC wanted lower because of a tuck program they have for aircraft landing in the northeast.  R51 called ZDC to APREQ lower on one of the planes that was landing in northeast USA.  ZDC controller approved the descent.  I was working R52 which is the sector under R51 and I took a point out on the descending plane.  I noticed that ZDC turned their southbound aircraft into the descending aircraft and R51 did not know this.  I called R51 and told them and R51 called ZDC and they turned their southbound aircraft to the east.  So the southbound aircraft checked in with me at R52 at FL360.  They were heading right into W122 (Giant Killer) military airspace which was active surface to unlimited.  There was no heading in the data block and the plane was clearly off course.  I asked the pilot if he was on an assigned heading and he said 'Yes; the controller at Washington Center told me that you wanted us on this heading.'  I never said that and I called Washington to get control for turns and I turned him away from the MOA and then back on course.What led to the event was this tuck program that Washington Center has come up with. Why it happened is because of the tuck program that Washington Center has.My recommendation that will always prevent this situation is to eliminate the tucks that are put out.I've been at ZJX for over XX years and we did not have to do all of these tucks before.  I remember when the economy was better and the volume of traffic was much higher than what it is today.  So at those times; the job got done and these tucks were absent.  I have heard that the reason for the tuck is because Washington Center doesn't want W09 (Dixon) sector to go into a red status.  So when the volume reached a certain number; they do not want it to get to that number.  That is only what I have heard.  This seems idiotic to me.  What it is essentially doing is:1. Increasing the volume of the R52 (metta) and W35 Wilmington while keeping W09 Dixon with less planes.2. Increasing the likelihood of an incident.  Only 10 minutes before this happened I told the supervisor that I was surprised that there haven't been more incidents from the tuck programs because of the amount of planes that we are being required to descend and the other planes that have to be vectored out of the way of the descending planes for this.Safety: This should be number 1.  As many CBI's and other training courses that we are required to take monthly and as much safety emphasis is in those videos; it would seem that this is excluded.Numerous pilots complain about being started down so early.  For an example; If you take off of Miami and are going to Atlantic City it's a total of about 1;000 miles.  At 500 miles which is halfway through your flight you are being descending essentially for your approach.  You have to be down to FL330 or FL350 from any altitude.  Many planes are up at FL450.  Who can give me an example of how this is customer service.  I can't tell you how many pilots have told me things like 'Do you realize how much fuel this will cost?'  'What is the number for Washington Flow I want to complain about this.'   'Why are being started down so early?'  What makes it worse is that the pilots will not know this on the ground. I have also heard that what Washington Center wants they get.  So it seems that this is here to stay.  Just because something is a set practice doesn't mean that it is right.




Synopsis: A Jacksonville Center (ZJX) controller describes a situation where on common occurrence aircraft in the area start down earlier then he would expect in order to alleviate traffic problems in a Washington Center (ZDC) sector. Miscommunication and bad headings cause an aircraft to come close to a restricted airspace area.