<< >> NASA ASRS Report 471445, March 2000

Captain of an SF34 made a turn to assure separation with a B757 climbing, and overtaking, through his cruise altitude. Both aircraft were given TA's by ARTCC controller and both had the other in sight.

Attributes
ACN	471445
Time
Date	200003
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
State Reference	MA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 15000 msl bound upper : 17000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zbw.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	SF 340A
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 11000 flight time type : 6500
ASRS Report	471445
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe other anomaly other
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : radar other controllera other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory flight crew : took precautionary avoidance action
Miss Distance	horizontal : 6000 vertical : 500
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

While a cruise at 17000 ft ZBW called traffic at 3 O'clock position, 10 mi 15000 ft a B757. We reported the aircraft in sight. The controller said he was going to climb the B757 through our altitude. The B757 started a climb at a low rate of accent. The B757 continued directly at us. I knew I could not out-climb them and with few options I asked ZBW for immediate turn. The controller had offered the B757 a vector away from us, but they declined. I started a tight left turn to avoid the B757. We avoided the intruder aircraft by about 1 mi at 500 ft. The controller failed to apply the rules of separation properly. The maneuvering aircraft is the one that needs to maintain visual separation. They are the ones who have the ability to avoid the aircraft in cruise. Any turn or climb on our part would have resulted in an altitude deviation or an unauthorized turn.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CAPT OF AN SF34 MADE A TURN TO ASSURE SEPARATION WITH A B757 CLBING, AND OVERTAKING, THROUGH HIS CRUISE ALT. BOTH ACFT WERE GIVEN TA'S BY ARTCC CTLR AND BOTH HAD THE OTHER IN SIGHT.

Narrative: WHILE A CRUISE AT 17000 FT ZBW CALLED TFC AT 3 O'CLOCK POS, 10 MI 15000 FT A B757. WE RPTED THE ACFT IN SIGHT. THE CTLR SAID HE WAS GOING TO CLB THE B757 THROUGH OUR ALT. THE B757 STARTED A CLB AT A LOW RATE OF ACCENT. THE B757 CONTINUED DIRECTLY AT US. I KNEW I COULD NOT OUT-CLB THEM AND WITH FEW OPTIONS I ASKED ZBW FOR IMMEDIATE TURN. THE CTLR HAD OFFERED THE B757 A VECTOR AWAY FROM US, BUT THEY DECLINED. I STARTED A TIGHT L TURN TO AVOID THE B757. WE AVOIDED THE INTRUDER ACFT BY ABOUT 1 MI AT 500 FT. THE CTLR FAILED TO APPLY THE RULES OF SEPARATION PROPERLY. THE MANEUVERING ACFT IS THE ONE THAT NEEDS TO MAINTAIN VISUAL SEPARATION. THEY ARE THE ONES WHO HAVE THE ABILITY TO AVOID THE ACFT IN CRUISE. ANY TURN OR CLB ON OUR PART WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN ALTDEV OR AN UNAUTH TURN.

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.