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An I90 TRACON front line manager observed a controller using visual separation with a large category aircraft behind an A380. The manager advised the controller visual separation rules are not permitted following an A380. The required seven miles separation was lost and the controller broke the second aircraft out for re-sequencing.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1312464 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201511 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801-2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | I90.TRACON |
| State Reference | TX |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | Large Transport |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | Final Approach |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Aircraft 2 | |
| Make Model Name | A380 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | Final Approach |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Supervisor / CIC |
| Qualification | Air Traffic Control Fully Certified |
| Experience | Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 4.0 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | ATC Issue All Types Conflict Airborne Conflict Deviation - Procedural Clearance |
Narrative:
I was working the front line manager position when I noticed a red warning alert cone on aircraft X. I walked over to the final scope and saw that the aircraft had been cleared for a visual approach using plane to plane visual separation. I advised the controller that he could not do that and he said; 'since when?' he then went back and queried aircraft X if he had the airport in sight. This was followed by a visual approach clearance with radar providing separation. I looked at the distance between and it was barely over 7 miles. I advised the controller of the distance between the two aircraft and the overtake that he had. I told him; 'you have 7.03 and a 20 knot over take; don't lose it.' he responded with; 'I'm watching it.' he then lost separation and began pullout and recovery of the incident.controller education. I should have instructed the controller to break out the aircraft instead of advising him of the distance. I later asked the controller if he was aware that the required separation was 7 miles and he said yes that he was aware.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: An I90 TRACON Front Line Manager observed a Controller using visual separation with a large category aircraft behind an A380. The Manager advised the Controller visual separation rules are not permitted following an A380. The required seven miles separation was lost and the Controller broke the second aircraft out for re-sequencing.
Narrative: I was working the Front Line Manager position when I noticed a Red Warning Alert cone on aircraft X. I walked over to the final scope and saw that the aircraft had been cleared for a visual approach using plane to plane visual separation. I advised the controller that he could not do that and he said; 'Since when?' He then went back and queried aircraft X if he had the airport in sight. This was followed by a visual approach clearance with radar providing separation. I looked at the distance between and it was barely over 7 miles. I advised the controller of the distance between the two aircraft and the overtake that he had. I told him; 'You have 7.03 and a 20 knot over take; don't lose it.' He responded with; 'I'm watching it.' He then lost separation and began pullout and recovery of the incident.Controller education. I should have instructed the controller to break out the aircraft instead of advising him of the distance. I later asked the controller if he was aware that the required separation was 7 miles and he said yes that he was aware.
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.