Narrative:

This report concerns and refers to ZAB memo 'quick look,' dated 11/X/89--which involved loss of sep between mlt X and mlt Y. The insistence by FAA headquarters, ats-1, in classifying the incident which occurred on 7/X/89 as an operational error sends a very dangerous and distressing message to controllers. When mlt X was initially instructed to 'fly heading 070 until level' and replied, 'we're celnav,' this probably was a refusal of the clearance in the pilot's mind, but very imprecise communication to the controller. The second control instruction, which was disregarded, was 'I've got traffic at 37, expedite to FL300-9-0, fly heading 0-7-0 until you're level at 39.' the pilot responded 'wilco,' but the aircraft continued in the turn. We'll give the pilot the benefit of the doubt and assume that he only understood the first part of the clearance. Even so, he acknowledged the clearance with a 'wilco.' not until after the third clearance to 'turn right, right now' was the aircraft observed to make a right turn. The initial letter from ats-1, denying reclassification of the system error, faulted the controller for not anticipating the turn and accomplishing coordination prior to the turn. After the information that the pilot requested a turn 68 mi early was digested, the southwest region final letter denying reclassification, faulted the controller for allowing the pilot ot turn early.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MLT ACFT OPERATING ON CELESTIAL NAVIGATION CAME IN CLOSE PROX TO ANOTHER ACFT AT THE SAME ALT.

Narrative: THIS RPT CONCERNS AND REFERS TO ZAB MEMO 'QUICK LOOK,' DATED 11/X/89--WHICH INVOLVED LOSS OF SEP BTWN MLT X AND MLT Y. THE INSISTENCE BY FAA HQ, ATS-1, IN CLASSIFYING THE INCIDENT WHICH OCCURRED ON 7/X/89 AS AN OPERROR SENDS A VERY DANGEROUS AND DISTRESSING MESSAGE TO CTLRS. WHEN MLT X WAS INITIALLY INSTRUCTED TO 'FLY HDG 070 UNTIL LEVEL' AND REPLIED, 'WE'RE CELNAV,' THIS PROBABLY WAS A REFUSAL OF THE CLRNC IN THE PLT'S MIND, BUT VERY IMPRECISE COM TO THE CTLR. THE SECOND CTL INSTRUCTION, WHICH WAS DISREGARDED, WAS 'I'VE GOT TFC AT 37, EXPEDITE TO FL300-9-0, FLY HDG 0-7-0 UNTIL YOU'RE LEVEL AT 39.' THE PLT RESPONDED 'WILCO,' BUT THE ACFT CONTINUED IN THE TURN. WE'LL GIVE THE PLT THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT AND ASSUME THAT HE ONLY UNDERSTOOD THE FIRST PART OF THE CLRNC. EVEN SO, HE ACKNOWLEDGED THE CLRNC WITH A 'WILCO.' NOT UNTIL AFTER THE THIRD CLRNC TO 'TURN RIGHT, RIGHT NOW' WAS THE ACFT OBSERVED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN. THE INITIAL LETTER FROM ATS-1, DENYING RECLASSIFICATION OF THE SYS ERROR, FAULTED THE CTLR FOR NOT ANTICIPATING THE TURN AND ACCOMPLISHING COORD PRIOR TO THE TURN. AFTER THE INFO THAT THE PLT REQUESTED A TURN 68 MI EARLY WAS DIGESTED, THE SW REGION FINAL LETTER DENYING RECLASSIFICATION, FAULTED THE CTLR FOR ALLOWING THE PLT OT TURN EARLY.

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.