<< >> NASA ASRS Report 696012, April 2006

Phl controller described TCAS RA incident at 4400 ft with air carrier on downwind responding to unknown issued VFR traffic.

Attributes
ACN	696012
Time
Date	200604
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : phl.airport
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl single value : 4400
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : phl.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A319
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : phl.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller military : 10 controller radar : 10
ASRS Report	696012
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne critical
Independent Detector	atc equipment : conflict alert aircraft equipment : tcas other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert controller : issued new clearance flight crew : took evasive action
Miss Distance	horizontal : 6000 vertical : 0
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Airspace Structure Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Ambiguous

Narrative:

While working final vector on a west flow runway 27R/35; aircraft X (A319) checked in at 6000 ft. I descended aircraft X down to 5000 ft on downwind. I then descended the aircraft to 4000 ft. I then observed a VFR aircraft about 20 mi east of phl at 3500 ft. I issued TA's to aircraft X twice. I then observed the VFR aircraft climbing to 4400 ft and issued a traffic alert to aircraft X and instructed him to descend to 3000 ft. Aircraft X then said he had the aircraft in sight and was responding to an RA. Aircraft X asked if I was working the aircraft and I said no. Aircraft X then asked if I could track the aircraft and I said yes. Also; I advised osic of the incident.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PHL CTLR DESCRIBED TCAS RA INCIDENT AT 4400 FT WITH ACR ON DOWNWIND RESPONDING TO UNKNOWN ISSUED VFR TFC.

Narrative: WHILE WORKING FINAL VECTOR ON A W FLOW RWY 27R/35; ACFT X (A319) CHKED IN AT 6000 FT. I DSNDED ACFT X DOWN TO 5000 FT ON DOWNWIND. I THEN DSNDED THE ACFT TO 4000 FT. I THEN OBSERVED A VFR ACFT ABOUT 20 MI E OF PHL AT 3500 FT. I ISSUED TA'S TO ACFT X TWICE. I THEN OBSERVED THE VFR ACFT CLBING TO 4400 FT AND ISSUED A TFC ALERT TO ACFT X AND INSTRUCTED HIM TO DSND TO 3000 FT. ACFT X THEN SAID HE HAD THE ACFT IN SIGHT AND WAS RESPONDING TO AN RA. ACFT X ASKED IF I WAS WORKING THE ACFT AND I SAID NO. ACFT X THEN ASKED IF I COULD TRACK THE ACFT AND I SAID YES. ALSO; I ADVISED OSIC OF THE INCIDENT.

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.