Narrative:

The boeing on visual approach called tower 7 mi northwest of hilo airport not having been issued the helicopter traffic by the approach controller. The boeing was also not sequenced correctly and this point was raised by the approach controller. The focus became the sequencing problem. Tower issued the sequence and 'that' traffic -- it was an overtake. The B732 pilot responded and also said 'who's this helicopter?' the tower was just about to issue the helicopter traffic to the boeing when the two were 2 NM opposite direction same altitude. The helicopter had been talking to approach all the time. The approach controller did issue the boeing traffic to the helicopter -- I don't know when. Also the boeing was 270 KTS ground speed. Air carrier routinely fly below 10000 ft faster than 250 KIAS. Note: I was working tower (local, ground, clearance devilry) in a tracab. The tower position has a certified tower radar display (ctrd) with airspace 5 NM range, at or below 2550 ft MSL.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ITO LCL CTLR IN CONTACT WITH LNDG B737 EXPERIENCED A CONFLICT WITH TRANSITIONING VFR HELI ON APCH FREQ.

Narrative: THE BOEING ON VISUAL APCH CALLED TWR 7 MI NW OF HILO ARPT NOT HAVING BEEN ISSUED THE HELI TFC BY THE APCH CTLR. THE BOEING WAS ALSO NOT SEQUENCED CORRECTLY AND THIS POINT WAS RAISED BY THE APCH CTLR. THE FOCUS BECAME THE SEQUENCING PROB. TWR ISSUED THE SEQUENCE AND 'THAT' TFC -- IT WAS AN OVERTAKE. THE B732 PLT RESPONDED AND ALSO SAID 'WHO'S THIS HELI?' THE TWR WAS JUST ABOUT TO ISSUE THE HELI TFC TO THE BOEING WHEN THE TWO WERE 2 NM OPPOSITE DIRECTION SAME ALT. THE HELI HAD BEEN TALKING TO APCH ALL THE TIME. THE APCH CTLR DID ISSUE THE BOEING TFC TO THE HELI -- I DON'T KNOW WHEN. ALSO THE BOEING WAS 270 KTS GND SPD. ACR ROUTINELY FLY BELOW 10000 FT FASTER THAN 250 KIAS. NOTE: I WAS WORKING TWR (LCL, GND, CLRNC DEVILRY) IN A TRACAB. THE TWR POS HAS A CERTIFIED TWR RADAR DISPLAY (CTRD) WITH AIRSPACE 5 NM RANGE, AT OR BELOW 2550 FT MSL.

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.