<< >> NASA ASRS Report 981083, November 2011

ARTCC controller used improper phraseology in the application of visual separation; resulting in a technical operational error.

Attributes
ACN	981083
Time
Date	201111
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.ARTCC
State Reference	US
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Cruise
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Enroute
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

Narrative:

I called traffic to both aircraft and let them know I would be using visual separation when visual contact was established. Once the level; aircraft reported the climbing aircraft in sight. I asked if he could maintain visual separation 'while he climbs through your altitude.' he said yes. I issued the clearance to the climber to continue through the altitude of the level aircraft.I usually use the phrase 'while he climbs through your altitude' in the visual separation clearance - not when asking the pilot if he can maintain visual separation. I followed that phrase with the clearance to the other aircraft. I usually am sure I accomplish each step in any clearance sequence rather than rely on habit alone. I failed to do so here resulting in a ridiculously unnecessary error. I am glad that everyone in the situation knew exactly what was going on so that safety was not compromised. It was a stupid error though.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ARTCC Controller used improper phraseology in the application of visual separation; resulting in a technical operational error.

Narrative: I called traffic to both aircraft and let them know I would be using visual separation when visual contact was established. Once the level; aircraft reported the climbing aircraft in sight. I asked if he could maintain visual separation 'while he climbs through your altitude.' He said yes. I issued the clearance to the climber to continue through the altitude of the level aircraft.I usually use the phrase 'while he climbs through your altitude' in the visual separation clearance - not when asking the pilot if he can maintain visual separation. I followed that phrase with the clearance to the other aircraft. I usually am sure I accomplish each step in any clearance sequence rather than rely on habit alone. I failed to do so here resulting in a ridiculously unnecessary error. I am glad that everyone in the situation knew exactly what was going on so that safety was not compromised. It was a stupid error though.

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.