Air carrier charter descending into nassau has 2 near midair collision encounters with aircraft.

Attributes
ACN	411652
Time
Date	199804
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : nas
State Reference	FO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5300 msl bound upper : 5800
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : nas
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	other : unknown
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 450 flight time total : 12000 flight time type : 450
ASRS Report	411652
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	conflict : nmac other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	vertical : 700
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

Apparently only 1 person working approach control into nassau. Lots and lots of VFR traffic. The problem arose because of poor radio usage by VFR traffic, the lack of more controllers working approach. We discovered the problem through our TCASII system. While en route to NAS from fpo we had a traffic alert followed by an RA while descending from 6000 ft to 4000 ft MSL. We immediately climbed from approximately 5300 ft to 5800 ft. The RA cleared itself and we informed ATC of our deviation from the clearance to descend to 4000 ft. We then continued our descent to 4000 ft MSL. A few mins later while level at 4000 ft MSL we again picked up traffic on our TCASII system. This was followed by a TA and shortly thereafter another RA. We again initiated an immediate climb to 4800 ft MSL. The RA then cleared itself. While we eventually saw the 1ST aircraft we did not see the 2ND. I believe both these incidents were directly related to understaffing at NAS approach and very poor radio discipline by the various VFR traffic in and around NAS.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR CHARTER DSNDING INTO NASSAU HAS 2 NMAC ENCOUNTERS WITH ACFT.

Narrative: APPARENTLY ONLY 1 PERSON WORKING APCH CTL INTO NASSAU. LOTS AND LOTS OF VFR TFC. THE PROB AROSE BECAUSE OF POOR RADIO USAGE BY VFR TFC, THE LACK OF MORE CTLRS WORKING APCH. WE DISCOVERED THE PROB THROUGH OUR TCASII SYS. WHILE ENRTE TO NAS FROM FPO WE HAD A TFC ALERT FOLLOWED BY AN RA WHILE DSNDING FROM 6000 FT TO 4000 FT MSL. WE IMMEDIATELY CLBED FROM APPROX 5300 FT TO 5800 FT. THE RA CLRED ITSELF AND WE INFORMED ATC OF OUR DEV FROM THE CLRNC TO DSND TO 4000 FT. WE THEN CONTINUED OUR DSCNT TO 4000 FT MSL. A FEW MINS LATER WHILE LEVEL AT 4000 FT MSL WE AGAIN PICKED UP TFC ON OUR TCASII SYS. THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY A TA AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER ANOTHER RA. WE AGAIN INITIATED AN IMMEDIATE CLB TO 4800 FT MSL. THE RA THEN CLRED ITSELF. WHILE WE EVENTUALLY SAW THE 1ST ACFT WE DID NOT SEE THE 2ND. I BELIEVE BOTH THESE INCIDENTS WERE DIRECTLY RELATED TO UNDERSTAFFING AT NAS APCH AND VERY POOR RADIO DISCIPLINE BY THE VARIOUS VFR TFC IN AND AROUND NAS.

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.