<< >> NASA ASRS Report 573783, February 2003

2 adjacent ZKC ARTCC radar sector controller's loose required separation with opposite direction climbing en route aircraft.

Attributes
ACN	573783
Time
Date	200302
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : gag.vortac
State Reference	OK
Altitude	msl single value : 35000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zkc.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zkc.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B747 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 15 controller time certified in position1 : 14
ASRS Report	573783
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	atc equipment : conflict alert other controllera other controllerb
Resolutory Action	none taken : insufficient time
Consequence	faa : investigated
Miss Distance	horizontal : 18000 vertical : 1100
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

I was working the X position when noticed that air carrier X was climbing out of FL354 to FL370 in direct conflict with my aircraft. Air carrier X turned left at gag approximately 15 degrees, right into the path of my air carrier Y. I quickly made sure the controller at sector Y, who was working air carrier X, was turning air carrier X to the right and started turning air carrier Y right also. Started with a 20 degree right turn with expedite in the transmission. I knew this was not going to be enough, but wanted to get the aircraft going to the right without questions. Followed the first turn with an expedite of heading 310 degrees within 5 seconds of getting the reply from the 20TH broadcast too late, as the aircraft lost separation before the turns could take effect.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: 2 ADJACENT ZKC ARTCC RADAR SECTOR CTLR'S LOOSE REQUIRED SEPARATION WITH OPPOSITE DIRECTION CLBING ENRTE ACFT.

Narrative: I WAS WORKING THE X POS WHEN NOTICED THAT ACR X WAS CLBING OUT OF FL354 TO FL370 IN DIRECT CONFLICT WITH MY ACFT. ACR X TURNED L AT GAG APPROX 15 DEGS, RIGHT INTO THE PATH OF MY ACR Y. I QUICKLY MADE SURE THE CTLR AT SECTOR Y, WHO WAS WORKING ACR X, WAS TURNING ACR X TO THE R AND STARTED TURNING ACR Y R ALSO. STARTED WITH A 20 DEG R TURN WITH EXPEDITE IN THE XMISSION. I KNEW THIS WAS NOT GOING TO BE ENOUGH, BUT WANTED TO GET THE ACFT GOING TO THE R WITHOUT QUESTIONS. FOLLOWED THE FIRST TURN WITH AN EXPEDITE OF HDG 310 DEGS WITHIN 5 SECONDS OF GETTING THE REPLY FROM THE 20TH BROADCAST TOO LATE, AS THE ACFT LOST SEPARATION BEFORE THE TURNS COULD TAKE EFFECT.

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.