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Controller described event when manager questioned altitude separation of two aircraft indicating 900 feet of separation.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 876262 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201003 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801-2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZZZ.Tower |
| State Reference | US |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | Small Aircraft Low Wing 1 Eng Fixed Gear |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | Cruise |
| Route In Use | Vectors |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Aircraft 2 | |
| Make Model Name | Cessna Citation Undifferentiated or Other Model |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | Cruise |
| Route In Use | Vectors |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Approach Departure |
| Qualification | Air Traffic Control Fully Certified |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | ATC Issue All Types |
Narrative:
Aircraft X was on vectors for a localizer approach and was level at 15000. A citation jet was on vectors for same type of approach at 16000. As the citation jet was approaching aircraft X; the altitude for the citation jet was 160 and aircraft X was between 150 and 151. The manager asked if aircraft X was at 15000 or 15100. I said that he was assigned 15000. Aircraft X displayed 150 (15000) when the aircraft passed; but the citation jet indicated 159. They were assigned altitudes that were separated by 1000 feet; which is what was required. The manager said that 900 feet was not 1000 feet. Recommendation; I have worked radar for about fifteen years and this has never been an issue until today. The altitude readouts have always fluctuated a little; but I have never been told that I didn't have separation. My recommendation is that we use two thousand feet separation to eliminate this problem; or educate management personnel that this is not an issue.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: Controller described event when manager questioned altitude separation of two aircraft indicating 900 feet of separation.
Narrative: Aircraft X was on vectors for a Localizer Approach and was level at 15000. A Citation Jet was on vectors for same type of approach at 16000. As the Citation Jet was approaching Aircraft X; the altitude for the Citation Jet was 160 and Aircraft X was between 150 and 151. The Manager asked if Aircraft X was at 15000 or 15100. I said that he was assigned 15000. Aircraft X displayed 150 (15000) when the aircraft passed; but the Citation Jet indicated 159. They were assigned altitudes that were separated by 1000 feet; which is what was required. The manager said that 900 feet was not 1000 feet. Recommendation; I have worked RADAR for about fifteen years and this has never been an issue until today. The altitude readouts have always fluctuated a little; but I have never been told that I didn't have separation. My recommendation is that we use two thousand feet separation to eliminate this problem; or educate management personnel that this is not an issue.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.