Chs controller experienced near loss of separation when he or she was late in utilizing visual separ...

Attributes
ACN	658311
Time
Date	200505
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : chs.vortac
State Reference	SC
Altitude	msl single value : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : chs.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 9
ASRS Report	658311
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	oversight : supervisor
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe
Independent Detector	atc equipment : conflict alert other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance controller : issued alert
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

While working heavy traffic and combined position; I was distraction by 2 departures off chs that were departed in rapid succession and I noticed aircraft #1 descending out of 4100 ft and knew it would conflict with aircraft #2. (Both had been descended to 3000 ft.) I vectored aircraft #2 away from aircraft #1 and I was using diverging courses in lieu of vertical separation. Pilot got #1 aircraft in sight and was instructed to maintain visual separation well after he had it in sight. I should have given the instructions to maintain visual separation immediately. I didn't; so I was questioned and felt I needed to report it to my supervisor who saw the whole thing from behind me. I spoke to the pilots who stated they had no problem with it and had received neither an RA nor TA.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CHS CTLR EXPERIENCED NEAR LOSS OF SEPARATION WHEN HE OR SHE WAS LATE IN UTILIZING VISUAL SEPARATION PROCS.

Narrative: WHILE WORKING HVY TFC AND COMBINED POS; I WAS DISTR BY 2 DEPS OFF CHS THAT WERE DEPARTED IN RAPID SUCCESSION AND I NOTICED ACFT #1 DSNDING OUT OF 4100 FT AND KNEW IT WOULD CONFLICT WITH ACFT #2. (BOTH HAD BEEN DSNDED TO 3000 FT.) I VECTORED ACFT #2 AWAY FROM ACFT #1 AND I WAS USING DIVERGING COURSES IN LIEU OF VERT SEPARATION. PLT GOT #1 ACFT IN SIGHT AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN VISUAL SEPARATION WELL AFTER HE HAD IT IN SIGHT. I SHOULD HAVE GIVEN THE INSTRUCTIONS TO MAINTAIN VISUAL SEPARATION IMMEDIATELY. I DIDN'T; SO I WAS QUESTIONED AND FELT I NEEDED TO RPT IT TO MY SUPVR WHO SAW THE WHOLE THING FROM BEHIND ME. I SPOKE TO THE PLTS WHO STATED THEY HAD NO PROB WITH IT AND HAD RECEIVED NEITHER AN RA NOR TA.

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.

Chs controller experienced near loss of separation when he or she was late in utilizing visual separation procedures.