Air carrier X had less than standard separation from air carrier Y. System error.

Attributes
ACN	142829
Time
Date	199004
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : gcm
State Reference	FO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 30000 msl bound upper : 31000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : mkjk
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 280 flight time total : 12000
ASRS Report	142829
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	142830
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : required legal separation non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	vertical : 1000
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

80 north of gcm on initial contact with kingston center air carrier X reported maintaining FL290. Kingston asked if we still requested FL330. We stated, 'affirmative.' kingston replied, 'stand by.' kingston then said to climb to FL330. We started our climb and at FL300 kingston requested our altitude. We stated FL300. Kingston said, 'descend back to FL290 and say your grand cayman DME.' we said 62 DME. Kingston stated, 'you have air carrier Y who checked atuvi at FL310.' we descended to FL290. He stated there was a communication problem with havana center. Later kingston asked if we were ever assigned FL330 by havana center. We replied, 'negative.' suggest: 1) kingston center obtain radar. 2) kingston center obtain better radios. 3) only allow altitude changes when all aircraft are monitoring the same frequency and within same airspace.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR X HAD LESS THAN STANDARD SEPARATION FROM ACR Y. SYSTEM ERROR.

Narrative: 80 N OF GCM ON INITIAL CONTACT WITH KINGSTON CENTER ACR X RPTED MAINTAINING FL290. KINGSTON ASKED IF WE STILL REQUESTED FL330. WE STATED, 'AFFIRMATIVE.' KINGSTON REPLIED, 'STAND BY.' KINGSTON THEN SAID TO CLB TO FL330. WE STARTED OUR CLB AND AT FL300 KINGSTON REQUESTED OUR ALT. WE STATED FL300. KINGSTON SAID, 'DSND BACK TO FL290 AND SAY YOUR GRAND CAYMAN DME.' WE SAID 62 DME. KINGSTON STATED, 'YOU HAVE ACR Y WHO CHKED ATUVI AT FL310.' WE DSNDED TO FL290. HE STATED THERE WAS A COM PROB WITH HAVANA CENTER. LATER KINGSTON ASKED IF WE WERE EVER ASSIGNED FL330 BY HAVANA CENTER. WE REPLIED, 'NEGATIVE.' SUGGEST: 1) KINGSTON CENTER OBTAIN RADAR. 2) KINGSTON CENTER OBTAIN BETTER RADIOS. 3) ONLY ALLOW ALT CHANGES WHEN ALL ACFT ARE MONITORING THE SAME FREQ AND WITHIN SAME AIRSPACE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.