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ZDC controller experienced operational error with holding and en route aircraft at FL370 during busy complex traffic due to holding and WX.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 667165 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200508 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | navaid : orf.vortac |
| State Reference | VA |
| Altitude | msl single value : 37000 |
| Environment | |
| Weather Elements | Thunderstorm |
| Light | Night |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zdc.artcc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | A320 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | cruise : holding |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Aircraft 2 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zdc.artcc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | B747-400 |
| 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 : 16 controller time certified in position1 : 9.5 |
| ASRS Report | 667165 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : required legal separation non adherence : published procedure |
| Independent Detector | atc equipment : conflict alert other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued alert controller : issued new clearance flight crew : took evasive action |
| Consequence | faa : investigated |
| Miss Distance | horizontal : 6000 vertical : 700 |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | ATC Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | ATC Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Operational Error |
Narrative:
WX was impacting the area forcing all aircraft to the east; out over the ocean. ZNY shut off all traffic to jfk; lga; ewr; forcing me to hold about 10 aircraft in 3 separate unpublished holding patterns. All transitioning aircraft needed constant attention because they kept deviating east; towards holding patterns. My attention was on northernmost holding pattern when conflict alert went off in southern holding pattern. Aircraft #1; in hold; was sbound as aircraft #2; transitioning sector; was northbound. Immediate action was taken to turn both aircraft; but it was already too late when the conflict alert went off. I did have a radar associate at the time.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: ZDC CTLR EXPERIENCED OPERROR WITH HOLDING AND ENRTE ACFT AT FL370 DURING BUSY COMPLEX TFC DUE TO HOLDING AND WX.
Narrative: WX WAS IMPACTING THE AREA FORCING ALL ACFT TO THE E; OUT OVER THE OCEAN. ZNY SHUT OFF ALL TFC TO JFK; LGA; EWR; FORCING ME TO HOLD ABOUT 10 ACFT IN 3 SEPARATE UNPUBLISHED HOLDING PATTERNS. ALL TRANSITIONING ACFT NEEDED CONSTANT ATTN BECAUSE THEY KEPT DEVIATING E; TOWARDS HOLDING PATTERNS. MY ATTN WAS ON NORTHERNMOST HOLDING PATTERN WHEN CONFLICT ALERT WENT OFF IN SOUTHERN HOLDING PATTERN. ACFT #1; IN HOLD; WAS SBOUND AS ACFT #2; TRANSITIONING SECTOR; WAS NBOUND. IMMEDIATE ACTION WAS TAKEN TO TURN BOTH ACFT; BUT IT WAS ALREADY TOO LATE WHEN THE CONFLICT ALERT WENT OFF. I DID HAVE A RADAR ASSOCIATE AT THE TIME.
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.