Narrative:

2 departure aircraft and 1 en route. Sector was busy with several aircraft on vectors and laddering. I had speed restr the second air carrier X to remain behind the lead air carrier. I monitored this situation to insure it was working. I had built in approximately 15-20 mi. I had stopped both departures at FL290 because of the en route, checking speeds again the climb separation was stabilized. It appeared the lead air carrier would conflict with the en route air carrier Y but the following air carrier X if climbed would have separation. I checked with vector lines and range again and climbed the back air carrier X to FL330. Another traffic situation required separation (radar vectors) so I watched this for a moment to insure it would work. Conflict alert activated. I looked and thought the lead air carrier had 'busted' altitude. Took a second to realize it was the back air carrier X. I turned air carrier X and gave an immediate descent. Due to poor radios in this area (just repaired/moved), but not fixed, it required 2-3 calls to get clearance to pilot. Conflict alert was fooled also, it should have activated when aircraft left FL290, allowing more time to resolve situation.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR X CLB TO OCCUPIED ALT HAD LTSS FROM ACR Y. SYS ERROR.

Narrative: 2 DEP ACFT AND 1 ENRTE. SECTOR WAS BUSY WITH SEVERAL ACFT ON VECTORS AND LADDERING. I HAD SPD RESTR THE SECOND ACR X TO REMAIN BEHIND THE LEAD ACR. I MONITORED THIS SITUATION TO INSURE IT WAS WORKING. I HAD BUILT IN APPROX 15-20 MI. I HAD STOPPED BOTH DEPS AT FL290 BECAUSE OF THE ENRTE, CHKING SPDS AGAIN THE CLB SEPARATION WAS STABILIZED. IT APPEARED THE LEAD ACR WOULD CONFLICT WITH THE ENRTE ACR Y BUT THE FOLLOWING ACR X IF CLBED WOULD HAVE SEPARATION. I CHKED WITH VECTOR LINES AND RANGE AGAIN AND CLBED THE BACK ACR X TO FL330. ANOTHER TFC SITUATION REQUIRED SEPARATION (RADAR VECTORS) SO I WATCHED THIS FOR A MOMENT TO INSURE IT WOULD WORK. CONFLICT ALERT ACTIVATED. I LOOKED AND THOUGHT THE LEAD ACR HAD 'BUSTED' ALT. TOOK A SECOND TO REALIZE IT WAS THE BACK ACR X. I TURNED ACR X AND GAVE AN IMMEDIATE DSCNT. DUE TO POOR RADIOS IN THIS AREA (JUST REPAIRED/MOVED), BUT NOT FIXED, IT REQUIRED 2-3 CALLS TO GET CLRNC TO PLT. CONFLICT ALERT WAS FOOLED ALSO, IT SHOULD HAVE ACTIVATED WHEN ACFT LEFT FL290, ALLOWING MORE TIME TO RESOLVE SITUATION.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.