NMM Controller voiced concern regarding military operations that result in several aircraft operating in close proximity to one another making accurate traffic calls difficult.
Synopsis
NMM Controller voiced concern regarding military operations that result in several aircraft operating in close proximity to one another making accurate traffic calls difficult.
Narrative
Aircraft X departed Key Field VFR with a request for IFR approaches. When able I cleared the aircraft and gave it a southbound vector towards the ILS Runway 01 final; at which time the aircraft reported traffic in his vicinity at 3;000 MSL and requested to not accept my vector. I instructed the aircraft to turn at his discretion; and it was about this time that I was able to identify the target he was referring to. The problem of my not being able to see the aircraft and issue traffic; or not give the vector towards it; was because five other aircraft from the same command as Aircraft X (Aircraft Y; Z; W; U and another) were airborne within 6 DME of Key Field and the alpha-numeric clutter prevented me from seeing the unidentified VFR target at 3;000. This has been a constant problem with this squadron. At one point; several months ago; the Commander agreed to not allow more than two or three of his aircraft operate over one operational area at a time (they routinely operate over Key Field and a fix referred to as Sand Flat; which is located approximately 3 NM east of the airport); now they routinely operate 5 and 6 at a time. Key Field is the main civilian airport in our airspace and it hosts practice approaches on a regular basis (Navy; Air Force and civilian). The training these aircraft are engaged in require ground personnel stationed at relatively fixed locations. They need to use a location that is not in close proximity to; or over; either of the main airfields in our airspace.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.