Narrative:

CL60 departing las runway 19 on initial contact appeared to overtake and 'come along side' a preceding aircraft (air carrier; can't remember call sign). I issued a traffic alert and suggested alternate instructions. I am not sure if separation was lost; but I notified the supervisor. I had an assist. Subsequent to this; several other aircraft came off in close proximity; which I also issued traffic alerts to. We have discussed this topic of departures coming off too close causing unsafe sits. Our entire crew has and continues to discuss this topic. If we continue to operate in this manner; it is only a matter of time until someone gets hurt. Aircraft have and will continue to take evasive action to avoid one another on departure. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter indicated that all departure aircraft are initially controled by one departure controller and that the tower is not required to call for release but simply provides a 'run down' of those aircraft departing. He said that the tower and or pilots frequently provide visual separation resulting in only 1 and a half miles separation when they arrive on the departure controller's frequency all headed to the same fix. The reporter indicated that all departures are initially routed to one departure fix and reestablishing the required three mile radar separation is very difficult within allotted airspace. He said the RNAV departure procedure compounds the problem because pilots sometimes accept visual separation responsibility with parallel runway departures; but then allow the aircraft to fly via automated means and cut off a previous departure aircraft. The reporter stated that he and others have advised management of their concerns via several avenues but have received no relief. He also indicated that the high and low departure sectors are frequently combined because of staffing problems; which was the case during this instance.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: L30 CTLR EXPRESSED CONCERN REGARDING TWR DEP SEPARATION AND APPLICATION OF VISUAL SEPARATION.

Narrative: CL60 DEPARTING LAS RWY 19 ON INITIAL CONTACT APPEARED TO OVERTAKE AND 'COME ALONG SIDE' A PRECEDING ACFT (AIR CARRIER; CAN'T REMEMBER CALL SIGN). I ISSUED A TFC ALERT AND SUGGESTED ALTERNATE INSTRUCTIONS. I AM NOT SURE IF SEPARATION WAS LOST; BUT I NOTIFIED THE SUPERVISOR. I HAD AN ASSIST. SUBSEQUENT TO THIS; SEVERAL OTHER ACFT CAME OFF IN CLOSE PROXIMITY; WHICH I ALSO ISSUED TFC ALERTS TO. WE HAVE DISCUSSED THIS TOPIC OF DEPS COMING OFF TOO CLOSE CAUSING UNSAFE SITS. OUR ENTIRE CREW HAS AND CONTINUES TO DISCUSS THIS TOPIC. IF WE CONTINUE TO OPERATE IN THIS MANNER; IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL SOMEONE GETS HURT. ACFT HAVE AND WILL CONTINUE TO TAKE EVASIVE ACTION TO AVOID ONE ANOTHER ON DEP. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR INDICATED THAT ALL DEP ACFT ARE INITIALLY CTLED BY ONE DEP CTLR AND THAT THE TWR IS NOT REQUIRED TO CALL FOR RELEASE BUT SIMPLY PROVIDES A 'RUN DOWN' OF THOSE ACFT DEPARTING. HE SAID THAT THE TWR AND OR PLTS FREQUENTLY PROVIDE VISUAL SEPARATION RESULTING IN ONLY 1 AND A HALF MILES SEPARATION WHEN THEY ARRIVE ON THE DEP CTLR'S FREQ ALL HEADED TO THE SAME FIX. THE RPTR INDICATED THAT ALL DEPS ARE INITIALLY ROUTED TO ONE DEP FIX AND REESTABLISHING THE REQUIRED THREE MILE RADAR SEPARATION IS VERY DIFFICULT WITHIN ALLOTTED AIRSPACE. HE SAID THE RNAV DEP PROC COMPOUNDS THE PROB BECAUSE PLTS SOMETIMES ACCEPT VISUAL SEPARATION RESPONSIBILITY WITH PARALLEL RWY DEPARTURES; BUT THEN ALLOW THE ACFT TO FLY VIA AUTOMATED MEANS AND CUT OFF A PREVIOUS DEP ACFT. THE RPTR STATED THAT HE AND OTHERS HAVE ADVISED MANAGEMENT OF THEIR CONCERNS VIA SEVERAL AVENUES BUT HAVE RECEIVED NO RELIEF. HE ALSO INDICATED THAT THE HIGH AND LOW DEP SECTORS ARE FREQUENTLY COMBINED BECAUSE OF STAFFING PROBS; WHICH WAS THE CASE DURING THIS INSTANCE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.