ZAB controller described incident during refueling procedures at FL230 when less than standard separ...

Attributes
ACN	699838
Time
Date	200606
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zab.artcc
State Reference	NM
Altitude	msl single value : 23000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zab.artcc
Operator	other
Make Model Name	F-117 (Stealth)
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	other
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zab.artcc
Operator	other
Make Model Name	F-117 (Stealth)
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 119
Flight Phase	other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Experience	controller time certified in position1 : 18
ASRS Report	699838
Person 2
Affiliation	government : military
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne critical non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	atc equipment : conflict alert other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert
Miss Distance	horizontal : 13000 vertical : 0
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

Aircraft X was a flight of 2 F117's and had been cleared to refuel in AR644. Aircraft X had progressed past the ip into the route. AR644 is an anchor track. Aircraft Y was a single F117 that was cleared to refuel after aircraft X and had progressed past the ip into the track. Aircraft X then exited the track to the east without a clearance and did a right turn toward the ip. Aircraft X was approaching the ip due west at FL230. Aircraft Y exited the track to the south without a clearance; did a turn west and proceeded to the ip due east at FL230. Neither aircraft called for a clearance. When I noticed the situation I attempted to call both aircraft without success. I attempted to descend aircraft Y on guard with no success. The 2 flts were now head-on less than 5 mi at FL230. Aircraft X called and it was determined that aircraft X and I were still together. Aircraft X reported they could take marsa with aircraft Y. At this time; prior to marsa the targets had merged. Just prior to aircraft X calling; I was able to instruct aircraft Y to descend to FL220. I instructed the flight of 3 to hold at the ip. Subsequently; both flts left the ip into AR644 without a clearance and without 'manso' with the tanker.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZAB CTLR DESCRIBED INCIDENT DURING REFUELING PROCS AT FL230 WHEN LTSS WAS NOTED.

Narrative: ACFT X WAS A FLT OF 2 F117'S AND HAD BEEN CLRED TO REFUEL IN AR644. ACFT X HAD PROGRESSED PAST THE IP INTO THE RTE. AR644 IS AN ANCHOR TRACK. ACFT Y WAS A SINGLE F117 THAT WAS CLRED TO REFUEL AFTER ACFT X AND HAD PROGRESSED PAST THE IP INTO THE TRACK. ACFT X THEN EXITED THE TRACK TO THE E WITHOUT A CLRNC AND DID A R TURN TOWARD THE IP. ACFT X WAS APCHING THE IP DUE W AT FL230. ACFT Y EXITED THE TRACK TO THE S WITHOUT A CLRNC; DID A TURN W AND PROCEEDED TO THE IP DUE E AT FL230. NEITHER ACFT CALLED FOR A CLRNC. WHEN I NOTICED THE SITUATION I ATTEMPTED TO CALL BOTH ACFT WITHOUT SUCCESS. I ATTEMPTED TO DSND ACFT Y ON GUARD WITH NO SUCCESS. THE 2 FLTS WERE NOW HEAD-ON LESS THAN 5 MI AT FL230. ACFT X CALLED AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT ACFT X AND I WERE STILL TOGETHER. ACFT X RPTED THEY COULD TAKE MARSA WITH ACFT Y. AT THIS TIME; PRIOR TO MARSA THE TARGETS HAD MERGED. JUST PRIOR TO ACFT X CALLING; I WAS ABLE TO INSTRUCT ACFT Y TO DSND TO FL220. I INSTRUCTED THE FLT OF 3 TO HOLD AT THE IP. SUBSEQUENTLY; BOTH FLTS LEFT THE IP INTO AR644 WITHOUT A CLRNC AND WITHOUT 'MANSO' WITH THE TANKER.

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.

ZAB controller described incident during refueling procedures at FL230 when less than standard separation was noted.