Date: 201902
Local time of day: 0601-1200
Location: ZAB.ARTCC, NM
Aircraft: Military
Operator: Military
Operating under: Part 91
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Refueling
Flight phase: Cruise
Airspace: Class A ZAB
ATC / advisory: Center ZAB
Second aircraft: F/A 18 Hornet/Super Hornet
Reporter organization: Government
Reporter function: Enroute
Human factors: Communication Breakdown
Anomaly: ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Airborne Conflict; 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: Human Factors; Procedure
Primary problem: Human Factors

Narrative: Sector 19 called me APREQing (Approval Request) Aircraft X 270B280 with Aircraft Y and Aircraft Z random refueling no further that 2nm nonstandard. I approved it. [Sector] 19 called back saying they were going to split Aircraft Y with Aircraft X APREQ late hand off. I referenced traffic at FL260 and they observed I said approved. [Sector] 19 called back a 3rd time saying they did not have time to split the refueling; your control here are the data blocks and they flashed at them to me. I said radar contact. Aircraft X called up I said standby and went about shipping and climbing my other traffic. Aircraft Z and Aircraft Y call up saying they wanted IFR not split up yet or radar identified I told them standby I was busy vectoring a test flight aircraft. Aircraft X calls up saying he terminates MARSA (Military Authority Assumes Responsibility for Separation of Aircraft) with Aircraft Y and Aircraft Z. Once again I tell them to standby. I have the data blocks; nobody is radar identified or squawking the right code. I see limited data blocks quite a ways ahead of Aircraft X. I told Aircraft Y come up vertically separated at the bottom of the block squawking XXXX and ident. I called the traffic at 260 to Aircraft X he said in sight. I asked for control to turn Aircraft Y and Aircraft Z out of the block to avoid the traffic but Aircraft X had no idea what I was asking. I see the ident from Aircraft Y 15nm ahead of Aircraft X. I called radar contact on Aircraft Y. Asked Aircraft X for control again and he said he has no idea what that was. I messed up my call signs and told Aircraft Z descend and maintain 260; told Aircraft X; MARSA was terminated with Aircraft Y. Immediately verified that Aircraft Z was maintaining FL270 and if he was level. He said level FL270 traffic in sight. Went back to Aircraft Y descended him to FL260 and cleared him on his way. Radar ID Aircraft Z who was 10nm in front of Aircraft X. I descended him to FL260 told Aircraft X; MARSA was terminated. Cleared Aircraft Z on his way. They had separated the refueling without me separating them. The military pilot should be held to the same standard as all other pilots if not held more responsible. I am a previous airline pilot myself and I think these military pilots are a joke and unsafe. They know less of what is going on than anyone else and they are the ones executing the procedure. Refueling should be standardized if nobody will follow the rules make them do it in military airspace. That way they can join up and separate as they please. Every time I've worked refueling its different every single time. This was a pure sign of unprofessional pilots who think they can do whatever they want and break up refueling on their own.




Synopsis: ZAB Controller reported an unsafe operation relating to a military refueling flight breakup.