ATCT CTLR APPROVED OPPOSITE DIRECTION ARR WITHOUT ENSURING SEPARATION WITH A RELEASED IFR DEPARTING ACFT. SEPARATION WAS LOST WHEN THE TWR CTLR XFERRED COM OF DEPARTING ACFT TO THE TRACON; WITH THE ARR ON APCH; ON TRACON FREQ.

Date: 1998-05 · Aircraft: Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer · Phase: climb

Anomalies: atc-issue-all-types|conflict-airborne-conflict|deviation-discrepancy-procedural-published-material-policy

Synopsis

ATCT CTLR APPROVED OPPOSITE DIRECTION ARR WITHOUT ENSURING SEPARATION WITH A RELEASED IFR DEPARTING ACFT. SEPARATION WAS LOST WHEN THE TWR CTLR XFERRED COM OF DEPARTING ACFT TO THE TRACON; WITH THE ARR ON APCH; ON TRACON FREQ.

Narrative

I APPROVED AN OPPOSITE DIRECTION ARR (ACFT Y) TO THE ARPT WITH AN OPPOSITE DIRECTION DEPARTING ACFT (ACFT X) UNDER MY CTL. THE ARR WAS UNDER THE CTL OF THE APCH CTLR (NOTE: THE FACILITIES ARE NOT CO-LOCATED). THE DEPARTING ACFT WAS NOT TOLD OF THE ARRIVING ACFT; BECAUSE AT THE TIME; I FELT IT WOULDN'T BE A FACTOR. THE DEPARTING ACFT DID NOT START HIS TURN TO THE E UNTIL LEAVING 2600 FT; WHICH IS IN ACCORDANCE WITH DEP PROCS FOR THE ARPT. THE DEPARTING ACFT WAS INSTRUCTED TO TURN EBOUND ON INITIAL TKOF CLRNC. TO CLARIFY THIS SIT; THE DEPARTING ACFT DEPARTED RWY 14R AND THE ARR INBOUND TO RWY 32L. THE SIT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED BY INSTRUCTING THE DEPARTING ACFT TO START HIS TURN AS SOON AS PRACTICAL AND GIVING TFC THAT WAS INBOUND OPPOSITE DIRECTION. APCH CTL COULD HAVE BEEN ADVISED TO SLOW THE ARR ACFT AND ALSO BASE THE ACFT INSTEAD OF A STRAIGHT-IN. THE ACFT COULD HAVE BEEN BROKEN OFF THE APCH SINCE THE DEP WASN'T TURNING. DON'T APPROVE OPPOSITE DIRECTION ARRS THAT WILL DELAY DEPARTING ACFT. PLAN AHEAD AND USE POSITIVE CTL.

Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.