2007 Pilatus PC-12/45 Airprox Incident near KINES (HB-FVZ)

Incident Overview and Aircraft Details On 27 June 2007, a serious airprox incident occurred between two Pilatus PC-12/45 aircraft in the vicinity of the KINES waypoint, approximately 80 nautical miles south-southeast of Geneva. The first aircraft, registration HB-FVZ, was operated by Happy Lines SA and was en route from Valencia (LEVC) to Geneva (LSGG) under an IFR private flight plan. The second aircraft, registration LX-LAB, was operated by Jetfly (owner Doublet & Cie SNC) and was flying from Geneva (LSGG) to Nice (LFMN), also under an IFR private flight plan. ## Flight Progression and Air Traffic Control At 17:00:44 UTC, the pilot of LX-LAB contacted the INI Sud sector and was authorized to climb to flight level 210 (FL 210). At 17:06:41 UTC, the pilot of HB-FVZ, maintaining FL 240, contacted the same sector and was cleared to follow the KINES 1 ROMEO arrival route. At 17:12:10 UTC, as HB-FVZ crossed the line of responsibility between Marseille and Geneva, the controller authorized a descent to FL 220. The pilot correctly read back the clearance but set FL 200 on the altitude selector. ## The Airprox Event At 17:13:26 UTC, the controller issued traffic information to LX-LAB, which was acknowledged without visual contact. Twelve seconds later, similar information was provided to HB-FVZ. At 17:14:15 UTC, the Short Term Conflict Alert (STCA) system activated when the aircraft were 4.8 NM apart with 900 ft vertical separation. The radar controller observed HB-FVZ descending below its assigned FL 220 and issued immediate left turn instructions to both aircraft. The HB-FVZ pilot read back the heading but omitted the flight level, while the LX-LAB pilot did not read back the instruction and continued on course. ## Separation and Aftermath The two aircraft crossed at 17:14:47 UTC with a horizontal separation of 1.3 NM and a vertical separation of 200 ft. Both aircraft were equipped with Traffic Advisory Systems (TAS) that generated traffic advisories, and both pilots reported seeing the other aircraft on their screens. Following the crossing, the HB-FVZ pilot initiated a left turn at 17:14:55 UTC. Both pilots reported on the frequency that the aircraft had crossed closely but that no visual contact was made due to instrument meteorological conditions (IMC).