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P80 controller reported numerous unidentified VFR targets routinely fly in close proximity to the final approach course; and suggested that the airspace be evaluated for a redesign.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1476383 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201708 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201-1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | PDX.Airport |
| State Reference | OR |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer |
| Flight Phase | Descent |
| Route In Use | Visual Approach |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Approach |
| Qualification | Air Traffic Control Fully Certified |
| Experience | Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 1 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | ATC Issue All Types Conflict Airborne Conflict |
Narrative:
Routine day on final. This report could probably be filed every hour of every day on the final position. No loss of separation occurred. Working final on west configuration is like playing a game of frogger trying to avoid VFR 1200 code targets. They circle south of the final approach course for at all different altitudes below 5000 feet. They are constantly turning; climbing; descending. It's a miracle that there hasn't been a mid-air collision. I try to miss the targets laterally and vertically; but sometimes it is impossible to do both. Sometimes the target will climb into the aircraft you are vectoring; or turn into them and you have to take action immediately to avoid a TCAS event. Our airspace needs to have a class charlie extension to the east. Fifteen miles from east to west and 4 miles on each side of the final approach course. Without an airspace design change; or a reclassification to class bravo it is only a matter of time before a serious accident occurs.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: P80 Controller reported numerous unidentified VFR targets routinely fly in close proximity to the final approach course; and suggested that the airspace be evaluated for a redesign.
Narrative: Routine day on final. This report could probably be filed every hour of every day on the final position. No loss of separation occurred. Working final on west configuration is like playing a game of Frogger trying to avoid VFR 1200 code targets. They circle south of the final approach course for at all different altitudes below 5000 feet. They are constantly turning; climbing; descending. It's a miracle that there hasn't been a mid-air collision. I try to miss the targets laterally and vertically; but sometimes it is impossible to do both. Sometimes the target will climb into the aircraft you are vectoring; or turn into them and you have to take action immediately to avoid a TCAS event. Our airspace needs to have a Class Charlie extension to the east. Fifteen miles from east to west and 4 miles on each side of the final approach course. Without an airspace design change; or a reclassification to Class Bravo it is only a matter of time before a serious accident occurs.
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.