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ZBW radar associate and radar controller are unable to correct a conflict between a descending B737 and an en route level B767 due to frequency blocked xmissions and an incorrect altitude data block entry.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 616056 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200404 |
| Day | Wed |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | navaid : ctr.vor |
| State Reference | MA |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 30900 msl bound upper : 31000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zbw.artcc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | descent : intermediate altitude |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Aircraft 2 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zbw.artcc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | B767 Undifferentiated or Other Model |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Navigation In Use | other |
| Flight Phase | cruise : level |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : handoff position |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Experience | controller limited radar : 15 controller non radar : 15 controller radar : 13 controller time certified in position1 : 13 |
| ASRS Report | 616056 |
| 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 : 900 |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | ATC Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Operational Error |
Narrative:
I was working the radar associate position at the athens sector (38) at ZBW. Air carrier X checked on frequency at FL370. Air carrier X was issued FL290, the pilot readback was correct. While performing other duties, posting flight progress strips, I did not have a chance to correlate the aircraft data block until later, at which time I noticed FL310 in the data block. I asked the radar controller to verify he issued FL310. He acknowledged yes. The radar controller issued traffic to air carrier X of crossing traffic, air carrier Y, level at FL290. Air carrier X simply acknowledged 'roger.' we observed air carrier X passing through FL309 and the radar controller started issuing corrective action. 3 clrncs issued to air carrier X were either not acknowledged or covered by other xmissions.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: ZBW RADAR ASSOCIATE AND RADAR CTLR ARE UNABLE TO CORRECT A CONFLICT BTWN A DSNDING B737 AND AN ENRTE LEVEL B767 DUE TO FREQ BLOCKED XMISSIONS AND AN INCORRECT ALT DATA BLOCK ENTRY.
Narrative: I WAS WORKING THE RADAR ASSOCIATE POS AT THE ATHENS SECTOR (38) AT ZBW. ACR X CHKED ON FREQ AT FL370. ACR X WAS ISSUED FL290, THE PLT READBACK WAS CORRECT. WHILE PERFORMING OTHER DUTIES, POSTING FLT PROGRESS STRIPS, I DID NOT HAVE A CHANCE TO CORRELATE THE ACFT DATA BLOCK UNTIL LATER, AT WHICH TIME I NOTICED FL310 IN THE DATA BLOCK. I ASKED THE RADAR CTLR TO VERIFY HE ISSUED FL310. HE ACKNOWLEDGED YES. THE RADAR CTLR ISSUED TFC TO ACR X OF XING TFC, ACR Y, LEVEL AT FL290. ACR X SIMPLY ACKNOWLEDGED 'ROGER.' WE OBSERVED ACR X PASSING THROUGH FL309 AND THE RADAR CTLR STARTED ISSUING CORRECTIVE ACTION. 3 CLRNCS ISSUED TO ACR X WERE EITHER NOT ACKNOWLEDGED OR COVERED BY OTHER XMISSIONS.
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.