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Trainee controller was working one aircraft eastbound at 33;000 feet and one aircraft westbound at 34;000 feet on the same airway. The trainee climbed the eastbound aircraft to 35;000 feet head on into confliction with the westbound traffic. The instructor took over the sector issuing instructions to both aircraft to maintain separation. The actions were too late and separation was lost.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1295417 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201509 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201-1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZDV.ARTCC |
| State Reference | CO |
| Environment | |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | Climb |
| Route In Use | Airway ZZZ |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Aircraft 2 | |
| Make Model Name | Commercial Fixed Wing |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | Descent |
| Route In Use | Airway ZZZ |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Enroute |
| Qualification | Air Traffic Control Fully Certified |
| Experience | Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 5 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | ATC Issue All Types Conflict Airborne Conflict Deviation - Procedural Clearance Deviation - Track / Heading All Types |
Narrative:
The role I played was as an instructor for the sector radar assist position. There was also training being conducted on the radar position. Aircraft X was a departure and had been assigned an interim altitude of 33;000 feet for traffic and was requesting higher. Aircraft Y was enroute at 34;000 feet. The radar trainee decided just east of the zzzzz waypoint to climb aircraft X to 35;000 feet. At the time the climb was issued aircraft Y was about 90 seconds away head on with aircraft X at 34;000 feet. Immediately conflict alert started flashing. The instructor for the radar position gave the trainee roughly about 10 seconds to do something however the trainee did nothing but stare at it. At that point the radar instructor issued aircraft X a 30 degree turn to the south; descended aircraft Y to 30;000 feet and was told to do so expeditiously. These clearances were not done in a timely enough manner and it appeared that separation was lost. From our prospective on the radar assist training there was not much we could do to save the error.unfortunately it would be to terminate training for this particular trainee. This is a regular occurrence (unable to see traffic) and despite the best efforts of his trainers there has not been any improvements from this trainee....in my opinion. This was bound to happen eventually and likely will again.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: Trainee Controller was working one aircraft eastbound at 33;000 feet and one aircraft westbound at 34;000 feet on the same airway. The trainee climbed the eastbound aircraft to 35;000 feet head on into confliction with the westbound traffic. The instructor took over the sector issuing instructions to both aircraft to maintain separation. The actions were too late and separation was lost.
Narrative: The role I played was as an instructor for the sector Radar Assist position. There was also training being conducted on the radar position. Aircraft X was a departure and had been assigned an interim altitude of 33;000 feet for traffic and was requesting higher. Aircraft Y was enroute at 34;000 feet. The radar trainee decided just east of the ZZZZZ waypoint to climb Aircraft X to 35;000 feet. At the time the climb was issued Aircraft Y was about 90 seconds away head on with Aircraft X at 34;000 feet. Immediately conflict alert started flashing. The instructor for the Radar position gave the trainee roughly about 10 seconds to do something however the trainee did nothing but stare at it. At that point the radar instructor issued Aircraft X a 30 degree turn to the South; descended Aircraft Y to 30;000 feet and was told to do so expeditiously. These clearances were not done in a timely enough manner and it appeared that separation was lost. From our prospective on the Radar Assist training there was not much we could do to save the error.Unfortunately it would be to terminate training for this particular trainee. This is a regular occurrence (unable to see traffic) and despite the best efforts of his trainers there has not been any improvements from this trainee....in my opinion. This was bound to happen eventually and likely will again.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.