<< >> NASA ASRS Report 718935, November 2006

D10 controller expressed concern regarding management's interpretation of heavy jet separation as it related to dfw RNAV departure procedures.

Attributes
ACN	718935
Time
Date	200611
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dfw.airport
State Reference	TX
Altitude	agl single value : 3500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : d10.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	DC-10 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : initial
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : d10.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	EMB ERJ 145 ER&LR
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : initial
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 19
ASRS Report	718935
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : required legal separation non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : took evasive action
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance FAA
Primary Problem	Ambiguous

Narrative:

RNAV departure procedures in effect at dfw. A heavy DC10 was cleared off the west side of the airport with an 'eastbound clearance.' the E145 came off the east side 10 seconds later. The DC10 was starting his turn to a heading of 002 degrees while the E145 was still northbound before starting his turn to 011 degrees. The E145 was operating almost directly behind the heavy; both climbing to 10000 ft. I was told there was no error because of the 009 degree difference in headings; but initially; the E145 was directly behind the heavy and out-climbing the DC10. They make it seem like wake turbulence doesn't exist; but the trail aircraft was 1 1/2 mi behind the heavy or 'very' slightly off to the side. This seemed like an extremely unsafe operation and I stopped the E145's climb and turned the DC10 away. Wake turbulence does kill. Seems like they are trying to hide it because of the RNAV departures.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: D10 CTLR EXPRESSED CONCERN REGARDING MGMNT'S INTERP OF HVY JET SEPARATION AS IT RELATED TO DFW RNAV DEP PROCS.

Narrative: RNAV DEP PROCS IN EFFECT AT DFW. A HVY DC10 WAS CLRED OFF THE W SIDE OF THE ARPT WITH AN 'EBOUND CLRNC.' THE E145 CAME OFF THE E SIDE 10 SECONDS LATER. THE DC10 WAS STARTING HIS TURN TO A HDG OF 002 DEGS WHILE THE E145 WAS STILL NBOUND BEFORE STARTING HIS TURN TO 011 DEGS. THE E145 WAS OPERATING ALMOST DIRECTLY BEHIND THE HVY; BOTH CLBING TO 10000 FT. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO ERROR BECAUSE OF THE 009 DEG DIFFERENCE IN HDGS; BUT INITIALLY; THE E145 WAS DIRECTLY BEHIND THE HVY AND OUT-CLBING THE DC10. THEY MAKE IT SEEM LIKE WAKE TURB DOESN'T EXIST; BUT THE TRAIL ACFT WAS 1 1/2 MI BEHIND THE HVY OR 'VERY' SLIGHTLY OFF TO THE SIDE. THIS SEEMED LIKE AN EXTREMELY UNSAFE OP AND I STOPPED THE E145'S CLB AND TURNED THE DC10 AWAY. WAKE TURB DOES KILL. SEEMS LIKE THEY ARE TRYING TO HIDE IT BECAUSE OF THE RNAV DEPS.

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.