Flight crew of S80 has TCASII RA and vector to avoid a skydive aircraft on approach into pbi.

Attributes
ACN	390299
Time
Date	199801
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : pbi
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 9200 msl bound upper : 10000
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : pbi tracon : gsp
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Super 80
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	arrival other
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
ASRS Report	390299
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude conflict : nmac non adherence : required legal separation other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

We were cleared to pbi via the llake two arrival with a clearance to descend to 10000 ft. As we were approaching phk, approach control reported traffic at our 1 O'clock position, a parachute jumping aircraft orbiting over phk and climbing. We initially did not see the aircraft, so approach control gave us a 90 degree heading to avoid the traffic. As we began the turn the traffic was sighted heading toward us and almost immediately we received a descend, crossing descend RA message. We descended to approximately 9200 ft before the conflict was resolved. We advised approach control of our RA and maneuver, and we were then reclred to rejoin the arrival. The controller implied by his comments that this is a continuing problem. Using a NAVAID along a heavily traveled STAR to climb to altitude for parachuting activities is very unwise. And by certifying this operator, the FAA gives tacit approval of this dangerous practice.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF S80 HAS TCASII RA AND VECTOR TO AVOID A SKYDIVE ACFT ON APCH INTO PBI.

Narrative: WE WERE CLRED TO PBI VIA THE LLAKE TWO ARR WITH A CLRNC TO DSND TO 10000 FT. AS WE WERE APCHING PHK, APCH CTL RPTED TFC AT OUR 1 O'CLOCK POS, A PARACHUTE JUMPING ACFT ORBITING OVER PHK AND CLBING. WE INITIALLY DID NOT SEE THE ACFT, SO APCH CTL GAVE US A 90 DEG HDG TO AVOID THE TFC. AS WE BEGAN THE TURN THE TFC WAS SIGHTED HEADING TOWARD US AND ALMOST IMMEDIATELY WE RECEIVED A DSND, XING DSND RA MESSAGE. WE DSNDED TO APPROX 9200 FT BEFORE THE CONFLICT WAS RESOLVED. WE ADVISED APCH CTL OF OUR RA AND MANEUVER, AND WE WERE THEN RECLRED TO REJOIN THE ARR. THE CTLR IMPLIED BY HIS COMMENTS THAT THIS IS A CONTINUING PROB. USING A NAVAID ALONG A HEAVILY TRAVELED STAR TO CLB TO ALT FOR PARACHUTING ACTIVITIES IS VERY UNWISE. AND BY CERTIFYING THIS OPERATOR, THE FAA GIVES TACIT APPROVAL OF THIS DANGEROUS PRACTICE.

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.