FLC OF AN MDT OBSERVED ANOTHER ACFT ON A CONVERGING COURSE CHANGE ASSIGNED HDG IN RESPONSE TO THE CLOSE PROX OF THE RPTR'S ACFT IN THE SETTING SUN.
Synopsis
FLC OF AN MDT OBSERVED ANOTHER ACFT ON A CONVERGING COURSE CHANGE ASSIGNED HDG IN RESPONSE TO THE CLOSE PROX OF THE RPTR'S ACFT IN THE SETTING SUN.
Narrative
WE WERE TOLD TO MAINTAIN VISUAL SEPARATION FROM AN ATP ACR Y AIRLINER TURBOPROP ON OUR CLBOUT. AS WE PASSED THROUGH THEIR ALT; THE OTHER PLANE PASSED BEHIND US BY ABOUT A 1/2 MI. WE CLRLY COULD SEE THAT HIS PATH WOULD TAKE HIM BEHIND US (THE CONVERGENT ANGLE WAS SHALLOW; APPROX 30 DEGS); BUT SINCE HE WAS LOOKING STRAIGHT INTO THE SETTING SUN IN ORDER TO SEE US; HE WAS NOT CERTAIN THE MANEUVER WAS SAFE. THE OTHER PLT CLRED TO TURN OFF HIS ASSIGNED HDG TO ASSURE SAFE SEPARATION; SINCE HE WAS NOT ABLE TO ADEQUATELY ASSESS THE SIT DUE TO THE SUN. WITH THE SUN DIRECTLY BEHIND US; WE COULD EASILY SEE THAT IT WAS SAFE. THE OTHER PLT EXPRESSED DISSATISFACTION AT 'HAVING TO MANEUVER' AROUND US. THIS IS THE MAIN POINT: EVEN THOUGH WE COULD SEE THAT ALL WAS OK; WE COULD HAVE USED EVEN MORE SPACE BTWN US. THE FACT THAT THE OTHER PLTS CHOSE TO MANEUVER AROUND US DEMONSTRATES THAT AN INCREASED MARGIN OF SAFETY WOULD HAVE BEEN PREFERENTIAL. I AM SORRY THAT I CAUSED THE OTHER PLTS TO BE DISTRACTED FROM THEIR DUTIES TO RESPOND TO WHAT THEY PERCEIVED TO BE A THREAT TO THEIR SAFETY.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.