Narrative:

I was flying #2 position of a 2-SHIP C130 formation (military) recovering into keesler AFB, ms. On IFR flight plan to perform airdrop with instrument approach into keesler AFB. Lead C130 was directed by gulfport approach to turn right to 270 degree heading from approximately 180 degrees (reason unknown at this time). Lead aircraft was not returning/acknowledging this vector following 2 or 3 more gulfport approach calls. As #2, attempted to notify lead, as well without response. Approach again directed 270 degree heading now! Lead responded, but did not turn and queried about priority. Approach denied priority and directed 270 degrees. Lead complied and broke formation up for individual clearance pickup. Confusion abounded, both aircraft recovered safely. Apparent conflict was learjet departing keesler AFB head-on but 1000 ft below C130's and keesler tower requiring information from C130 lead as to intentions of C130 formation -- radio congestion, IMC and high workload. Lead pilot and approach controller both stressed -- lead was notified by approach and tower to call after lndgs (do not know result).

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A FLT OF 2 C130'S WERE ISSUED A HDG BY GPT TRACON. THE LEAD ACFT FAILED TO RESPOND PROMPTLY AND THEN DELAYED THE TURN WHICH PRODUCED HIGH WORKLOADS TO CORRECT.

Narrative: I WAS FLYING #2 POS OF A 2-SHIP C130 FORMATION (MIL) RECOVERING INTO KEESLER AFB, MS. ON IFR FLT PLAN TO PERFORM AIRDROP WITH INST APCH INTO KEESLER AFB. LEAD C130 WAS DIRECTED BY GULFPORT APCH TO TURN R TO 270 DEG HDG FROM APPROX 180 DEGS (REASON UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME). LEAD ACFT WAS NOT RETURNING/ACKNOWLEDGING THIS VECTOR FOLLOWING 2 OR 3 MORE GULFPORT APCH CALLS. AS #2, ATTEMPTED TO NOTIFY LEAD, AS WELL WITHOUT RESPONSE. APCH AGAIN DIRECTED 270 DEG HDG NOW! LEAD RESPONDED, BUT DID NOT TURN AND QUERIED ABOUT PRIORITY. APCH DENIED PRIORITY AND DIRECTED 270 DEGS. LEAD COMPLIED AND BROKE FORMATION UP FOR INDIVIDUAL CLRNC PICKUP. CONFUSION ABOUNDED, BOTH ACFT RECOVERED SAFELY. APPARENT CONFLICT WAS LEARJET DEPARTING KEESLER AFB HEAD-ON BUT 1000 FT BELOW C130'S AND KEESLER TWR REQUIRING INFO FROM C130 LEAD AS TO INTENTIONS OF C130 FORMATION -- RADIO CONGESTION, IMC AND HIGH WORKLOAD. LEAD PLT AND APCH CTLR BOTH STRESSED -- LEAD WAS NOTIFIED BY APCH AND TWR TO CALL AFTER LNDGS (DO NOT KNOW RESULT).

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.