Crp controller instructor becomes distraction as departing BE55 climbs through holding BE9L.

Attributes
ACN	504300
Time
Date	200103
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : hrl.airport
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl single value : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : crp.tracon
Operator	other
Make Model Name	King Air C90 E90
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	ils localizer & glide slope : 17r
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent : holding
Route In Use	approach : instrument precision arrival : holding pattern
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : crp.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Baron 55/Cochise
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : initial climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure instruction : instructor
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 6
ASRS Report	504300
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure instruction : trainee
Qualification	controller : developmental
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne critical non adherence : required legal separation non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	atc equipment : conflict alert atc equipment other atc equipment : radar other controllera other controllerb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert
Consequence	faa : investigated
Miss Distance	horizontal : 3000 vertical : 100
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

Aircraft #1 holding over FAF on opposite direction approach at 4000 ft MSL. Aircraft #2 departed, data tag indicating VFR. Trainee radar idented, but did not restrict his altitude. As I was about to say something, the trainee turned to the flight data controller and asked for 'that VFR on top.' I stopped short since an aircraft on a VFR on top clearance would've been restr to 3000 ft MSL by the tower. After attending to other duties, conflict alert activated and traffic alerts were issued. Aircraft #2 had climbed through 4000 ft MSL. On the debrief following the session, I asked the trainee about the VFR on top issue. He said he was referring to (parenthetical words are implied) 'that VFR (strip) on top (of the printer).' lesson learned: be careful about certain arrangements of words in the operational quarters. Also, when in doubt, clarify issues with trainees.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CRP CTLR INSTRUCTOR BECOMES DISTR AS DEPARTING BE55 CLBS THROUGH HOLDING BE9L.

Narrative: ACFT #1 HOLDING OVER FAF ON OPPOSITE DIRECTION APCH AT 4000 FT MSL. ACFT #2 DEPARTED, DATA TAG INDICATING VFR. TRAINEE RADAR IDENTED, BUT DID NOT RESTRICT HIS ALT. AS I WAS ABOUT TO SAY SOMETHING, THE TRAINEE TURNED TO THE FLT DATA CTLR AND ASKED FOR 'THAT VFR ON TOP.' I STOPPED SHORT SINCE AN ACFT ON A VFR ON TOP CLRNC WOULD'VE BEEN RESTR TO 3000 FT MSL BY THE TWR. AFTER ATTENDING TO OTHER DUTIES, CONFLICT ALERT ACTIVATED AND TFC ALERTS WERE ISSUED. ACFT #2 HAD CLBED THROUGH 4000 FT MSL. ON THE DEBRIEF FOLLOWING THE SESSION, I ASKED THE TRAINEE ABOUT THE VFR ON TOP ISSUE. HE SAID HE WAS REFERRING TO (PARENTHETICAL WORDS ARE IMPLIED) 'THAT VFR (STRIP) ON TOP (OF THE PRINTER).' LESSON LEARNED: BE CAREFUL ABOUT CERTAIN ARRANGEMENTS OF WORDS IN THE OPERATIONAL QUARTERS. ALSO, WHEN IN DOUBT, CLARIFY ISSUES WITH TRAINEES.

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.