Air carrier over the ocean issued a climb to an occupied altitude resulting in less than standard se...

Attributes
ACN	125139
Time
Date	198910
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : dut
State Reference	AK
Altitude	msl bound lower : 39000 msl bound upper : 39000
Environment
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Widebody, Low Wing, 4 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	enroute : pacific enroute : other oceanic enroute airway : zoa
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Widebody, Low Wing, 4 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : other oceanic enroute : pacific
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : non radar
ASRS Report	125139
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure non adherence : required legal separation other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 99999 vertical : 0
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

Air carrier X, en route from vhhh to ksfo, was at approximately 4537N/16800W when a climb clearance was issued to him to FL390. Air carrier Y, en route from rkss to ksfo, was 9 min approximately 72 mi behind him, at FL390. In the oakland fir min separation on the route would have to be at least 15 min in-trail with mach technique. When searching the strips for traffic at FL390 air carrier Y was missed. In this case I made the mistake, but the system could be improved for the amount of traffic that is building in the pacific rim.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR OVER THE OCEAN ISSUED A CLIMB TO AN OCCUPIED ALT RESULTING IN LESS THAN STANDARD SEPARATION.

Narrative: ACR X, ENRTE FROM VHHH TO KSFO, WAS AT APPROX 4537N/16800W WHEN A CLIMB CLRNC WAS ISSUED TO HIM TO FL390. ACR Y, ENRTE FROM RKSS TO KSFO, WAS 9 MIN APPROX 72 MI BEHIND HIM, AT FL390. IN THE OAKLAND FIR MIN SEPARATION ON THE ROUTE WOULD HAVE TO BE AT LEAST 15 MIN IN-TRAIL WITH MACH TECHNIQUE. WHEN SEARCHING THE STRIPS FOR TFC AT FL390 ACR Y WAS MISSED. IN THIS CASE I MADE THE MISTAKE, BUT THE SYSTEM COULD BE IMPROVED FOR THE AMOUNT OF TFC THAT IS BUILDING IN THE PACIFIC RIM.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 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.

Air carrier over the ocean issued a climb to an occupied altitude resulting in less than standard separation.