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

Attributes
ACN	168011
Time
Date	199101
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : gck
State Reference	KS
Altitude	msl bound lower : 35000 msl bound upper : 35000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zkc
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Widebody, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
ASRS Report	168011
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : published procedure non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : unspecified other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	faa : investigated
Miss Distance	horizontal : 18000 vertical : 0
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

Small transport X westbound at FL350, air carrier Y southwest at FL350 was vectored behind small transport X. Small transport X had a course reversal at gck. The right turn started east of gck and was not noticed immediately and sep was lost. Turns were issued to both aircraft prior to C/a and activation of oedp. Contributing factors include: busy and complex traffic, several aircraft on vectors, distraction from landlines and reports of chop. Possible solutions to the situation include: 1) a different route for round-robin test and demonstration aircraft so that their return to their destination airport is not immediately in conflict with another aircraft. This route (on small transport X) is 170-180 degree turn to the east. 2) FAA could make it a requirement for aircraft to advise when starting a turn of 90 degrees or more. 3) adopt a call sign or enter pertinent remarks in space 26 of the flight plan, such as 'test' or 'demonstration' flight.

Original NASA ASRS Text

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

Narrative: SMT X WBND AT FL350, ACR Y SW AT FL350 WAS VECTORED BEHIND SMT X. SMT X HAD A COURSE REVERSAL AT GCK. THE RIGHT TURN STARTED E OF GCK AND WAS NOT NOTICED IMMEDIATELY AND SEP WAS LOST. TURNS WERE ISSUED TO BOTH ACFT PRIOR TO C/A AND ACTIVATION OF OEDP. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS INCLUDE: BUSY AND COMPLEX TFC, SEVERAL ACFT ON VECTORS, DISTR FROM LANDLINES AND RPTS OF CHOP. POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS TO THE SITUATION INCLUDE: 1) A DIFFERENT RTE FOR ROUND-ROBIN TEST AND DEMO ACFT SO THAT THEIR RETURN TO THEIR DEST ARPT IS NOT IMMEDIATELY IN CONFLICT WITH ANOTHER ACFT. THIS RTE (ON SMT X) IS 170-180 DEG TURN TO THE E. 2) FAA COULD MAKE IT A REQUIREMENT FOR ACFT TO ADVISE WHEN STARTING A TURN OF 90 DEGS OR MORE. 3) ADOPT A CALL SIGN OR ENTER PERTINENT REMARKS IN SPACE 26 OF THE FLT PLAN, SUCH AS 'TEST' OR 'DEMO' FLT.

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.