Abq tower controller reported of a TCAS RA event during an opposite direction operation. The departu...

Attributes
ACN	1426870
Time
Date	201702
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	ABQ.Tower
State Reference	NM
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Medium Transport Low Wing 2 Turbojet Eng
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Final Approach
Route In Use	Visual Approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Military Transport
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Climb
Route In Use	Vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Local
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Experience	Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 1
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Conflict Airborne Conflict Deviation - Procedural Clearance Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

Narrative:

Aircraft Y; requested an opposite direction departure from runway 21 due to operational necessity. I approved the request and instructed the aircraft to taxi to runway 21. At the same time; the approach controller vectored aircraft X for a visual approach to runway 3; in accordance with the flow in use. As aircraft Y was taxiing; I asked the pilot if he would be ready to go or if he needed time on the runway before starting departure roll. He informed me that he would need '30 seconds' on the runway. With aircraft X 15 miles from the runway and cleared for a visual approach; I instructed aircraft Y to turn right directly to the abq VOR and cleared him for takeoff. He taxied onto the runway and did not move for at least one minute. With aircraft X 12 miles out; aircraft Y rolled and became airborne but did not turn. At the same time aircraft X checked on my frequency and requested s-turns to dissipate excess altitude. I approved s-turns to the right; away from aircraft Y. I then instructed aircraft Y to begin his right turn immediately; and at that point aircraft X informed me that he was climbing due to a TCAS RA. When aircraft Y informed me that he needed extra time; I should have had him wait until aircraft X landed before allowing aircraft Y to depart. I also could have asked the radar approach controller to take aircraft X to runway 8; a runway which would have eliminated the issue of opposite direction flight paths.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ABQ Tower Controller reported of a TCAS RA event during an opposite direction operation. The departure did not turn as instructed leading to a loss of separation.

Narrative: Aircraft Y; requested an opposite direction departure from runway 21 due to operational necessity. I approved the request and instructed the aircraft to taxi to runway 21. At the same time; the approach controller vectored Aircraft X for a visual approach to runway 3; in accordance with the flow in use. As Aircraft Y was taxiing; I asked the pilot if he would be ready to go or if he needed time on the runway before starting departure roll. He informed me that he would need '30 seconds' on the runway. With Aircraft X 15 miles from the runway and cleared for a visual approach; I instructed Aircraft Y to turn right directly to the ABQ VOR and cleared him for takeoff. He taxied onto the runway and did not move for at least one minute. With Aircraft X 12 miles out; Aircraft Y rolled and became airborne but did not turn. At the same time Aircraft X checked on my frequency and requested S-turns to dissipate excess altitude. I approved S-turns to the right; away from Aircraft Y. I then instructed Aircraft Y to begin his right turn immediately; and at that point Aircraft X informed me that he was climbing due to a TCAS RA. When Aircraft Y informed me that he needed extra time; I should have had him wait until Aircraft X landed before allowing Aircraft Y to depart. I also could have asked the radar approach controller to take Aircraft X to runway 8; a runway which would have eliminated the issue of opposite direction flight paths.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.

Abq tower controller reported of a TCAS RA event during an opposite direction operation. The departure did not turn as instructed leading to a loss of separation.