Enroute controller described a probable loss of separation event during a military re-fueling exerci...

Narrative:

While working (2) sectors combined; aircraft Y and aircraft Z were conducting air-refueling in abcde. This track is normally left turns; aircraft Y asked to manuever in the track airspace to accomodate the receiver due to the sun angle. I gave the aircraft permission to manuever; at the normal turn point where the aircraft would turn left the refuelers made a right turn into aircraft X who was on a 20 degree left vector to avoid the turn point. Upon noticing the right turn I turned aircraft X an additional 20 left and asked the tanker for a tighter turn to the right. These instructions proved to be insufficient to maintain the required separation. I would have pinned down the tanker more as to how he wanted to manuever.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Enroute Controller described a probable loss of separation event during a military re-fueling exercise when maneuvering intentions by the tanker were not clarified.

Narrative: While working (2) Sectors combined; Aircraft Y and Aircraft Z were conducting air-refueling in ABCDE. This track is normally left turns; Aircraft Y asked to manuever in the track airspace to accomodate the receiver due to the sun angle. I gave the aircraft permission to manuever; at the normal turn point where the aircraft would turn left the refuelers made a right turn into Aircraft X who was on a 20 degree left vector to avoid the turn point. Upon noticing the right turn I turned Aircraft X an additional 20 left and asked the tanker for a tighter turn to the right. These instructions proved to be insufficient to maintain the required separation. I would have pinned down the tanker more as to how he wanted to manuever.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

Attributes
ACN	1002724
Time
Date	201204
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.ARTCC
State Reference	US
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Falcon 10/100
Flight Phase	Descent
Route In Use	Vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Enroute
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Deviation - Track / Heading All Types

Enroute controller described a probable loss of separation event during a military re-fueling exercise when maneuvering intentions by the tanker were not clarified.