<< >> NASA ASRS Report 518541, July 2001

ZBW controller issues multiple clrncs to foreign air carrier's without ensuring separation. Problem of language skills apparent.

Attributes
ACN	518541
Time
Date	200107
Day	Sun
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : bos.vortac
State Reference	MA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 32900 msl bound upper : 34200
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zbw.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B777-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zbw.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B747-400
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
ASRS Report	518541
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : clearance non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	atc equipment : conflict alert atc equipment other atc equipment : radar other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : separated traffic controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	faa : investigated
Miss Distance	horizontal : 13200 vertical : 1300
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

B772, climbing to FL370, was issued a left 20 degree turn to miss aircraft Y but turned right instead, into the path of aircraft Y at FL350. Aircraft Y was issued a descent to FL310 and expedite, but did not respond. Aircraft X expedited his climb and got on top with 5 mi separation. Then, aircraft Y started a descent to FL310. I told him to maintain his present altitude twice. He did not understand, so I stopped him at FL340 to miss aircraft Z who was nebound at FL330.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZBW CTLR ISSUES MULTIPLE CLRNCS TO FOREIGN ACR'S WITHOUT ENSURING SEPARATION. PROB OF LANGUAGE SKILLS APPARENT.

Narrative: B772, CLBING TO FL370, WAS ISSUED A L 20 DEG TURN TO MISS ACFT Y BUT TURNED R INSTEAD, INTO THE PATH OF ACFT Y AT FL350. ACFT Y WAS ISSUED A DSCNT TO FL310 AND EXPEDITE, BUT DID NOT RESPOND. ACFT X EXPEDITED HIS CLB AND GOT ON TOP WITH 5 MI SEPARATION. THEN, ACFT Y STARTED A DSCNT TO FL310. I TOLD HIM TO MAINTAIN HIS PRESENT ALT TWICE. HE DID NOT UNDERSTAND, SO I STOPPED HIM AT FL340 TO MISS ACFT Z WHO WAS NEBOUND AT FL330.

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.