Less than standard separation between 2 military transport aircraft. Operational error.

Attributes
ACN	98133
Time
Date	198811
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : swf
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4800 msl bound upper : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zbw
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Military Transport
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Military Transport
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent other landing other
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller non radar : 1 controller radar : 10
ASRS Report	98133
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	oversight : supervisor
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : published procedure non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified atc
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	faa : investigated
Miss Distance	horizontal : 6000 vertical : 200
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error
Situations
Publication	Unspecified

Narrative:

I had mlt X departing swf direct ign climbing to 5000. X was non radar and its initial call was to the sector just east of mine. I cleared mlt Y for a visual approach to swf from the north after Y called the airport and aircraft X in sight. I did this after asking my supervisor if I could do this and he said sure as long as the aircraft on visual approach had the other aircraft in sight. I'm not sure if the supervisor knew the situation whether X was departing or arriving. Although I stated to him that mlt X was a departure. I should have known that this procedure isn't covered in the ATP. Callback conversation with reporter revealed following information. Reporter has 11 yrs total ATC with 10 yrs radar. ZBW is full time approach facility for swf. Radar coverage is down to 3000/3500' in that area. ARTCC still not permitted to apply visual sep between aircraft. Facility review classified incident as operational error with both reporter and his supervisor being held responsible for less than standard sep. Supervisor has since retired.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LESS THAN STANDARD SEPARATION BETWEEN 2 MIL TRANSPORT ACFT. OPERATIONAL ERROR.

Narrative: I HAD MLT X DEPARTING SWF DIRECT IGN CLBING TO 5000. X WAS NON RADAR AND ITS INITIAL CALL WAS TO THE SECTOR JUST E OF MINE. I CLRED MLT Y FOR A VISUAL APCH TO SWF FROM THE N AFTER Y CALLED THE ARPT AND ACFT X IN SIGHT. I DID THIS AFTER ASKING MY SUPVR IF I COULD DO THIS AND HE SAID SURE AS LONG AS THE ACFT ON VISUAL APCH HAD THE OTHER ACFT IN SIGHT. I'M NOT SURE IF THE SUPVR KNEW THE SITUATION WHETHER X WAS DEPARTING OR ARRIVING. ALTHOUGH I STATED TO HIM THAT MLT X WAS A DEP. I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT THIS PROC ISN'T COVERED IN THE ATP. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED FOLLOWING INFO. RPTR HAS 11 YRS TOTAL ATC WITH 10 YRS RADAR. ZBW IS FULL TIME APCH FAC FOR SWF. RADAR COVERAGE IS DOWN TO 3000/3500' IN THAT AREA. ARTCC STILL NOT PERMITTED TO APPLY VISUAL SEP BTWN ACFT. FAC REVIEW CLASSIFIED INCIDENT AS OPERATIONAL ERROR WITH BOTH RPTR AND HIS SUPVR BEING HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR LESS THAN STANDARD SEP. SUPVR HAS SINCE RETIRED.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 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.