ZAB controllers unable to ensure separation at FL280 between an MD80 and B757 due to turbulence and opposite direction traffic (B757) not under reporter's control, complicated by AR613 usage.

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Attributes
ACN	472967
Time
Date	200005
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	intersection : itemm
State Reference	AZ
Altitude	msl single value : 28000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Weather Elements	Turbulence
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zab.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zab.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B757-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 12 controller time certified in position1 : 6
ASRS Report	472967
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : handoff position
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller military : 16 controller radar : 19
ASRS Report	472946
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe inflight encounter : turbulence non adherence : published procedure non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	atc equipment : conflict alert aircraft equipment : tcas other controllera other controllerb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	faa : investigated
Miss Distance	horizontal : 24000 vertical : 600
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

The MD80 (aircraft X) was stopped at FL270 for 2 head-on aircraft at FL280. He was also headed at refueling track AR613, active FL240-FL270. Once he cleared the first aircraft, I issued climb to FL290 to clear the AR613 aircraft. The MD80 and B757 conflicted. The sector was very busy with turbulence from FL310 to FL370. The B757 advised that his TCASII had shown the other aircraft, but he took no action. I was also not on frequency at the time of the occurrence and therefore couldn't accept the vector (30 degrees right) that was issued. Supplemental information from acn 472946: departure traffic off phx were given phx direct ewm VORTAC to save time and distance rather than going on the departure over phx-tfo-cie-ewm. It would have been better to have them depart on the SID away from refueling track and also as busy, as the sectors had 20+ aircraft. A tracker position would have been a good idea.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZAB CTLRS UNABLE TO ENSURE SEPARATION AT FL280 BTWN AN MD80 AND B757 DUE TO TURB AND OPPOSITE DIRECTION TFC (B757) NOT UNDER RPTR'S CTL, COMPLICATED BY AR613 USAGE.

Narrative: THE MD80 (ACFT X) WAS STOPPED AT FL270 FOR 2 HEAD-ON ACFT AT FL280. HE WAS ALSO HEADED AT REFUELING TRACK AR613, ACTIVE FL240-FL270. ONCE HE CLRED THE FIRST ACFT, I ISSUED CLB TO FL290 TO CLR THE AR613 ACFT. THE MD80 AND B757 CONFLICTED. THE SECTOR WAS VERY BUSY WITH TURB FROM FL310 TO FL370. THE B757 ADVISED THAT HIS TCASII HAD SHOWN THE OTHER ACFT, BUT HE TOOK NO ACTION. I WAS ALSO NOT ON FREQ AT THE TIME OF THE OCCURRENCE AND THEREFORE COULDN'T ACCEPT THE VECTOR (30 DEGS R) THAT WAS ISSUED. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 472946: DEP TFC OFF PHX WERE GIVEN PHX DIRECT EWM VORTAC TO SAVE TIME AND DISTANCE RATHER THAN GOING ON THE DEP OVER PHX-TFO-CIE-EWM. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER TO HAVE THEM DEPART ON THE SID AWAY FROM REFUELING TRACK AND ALSO AS BUSY, AS THE SECTORS HAD 20+ ACFT. A TRACKER POS WOULD HAVE BEEN A GOOD IDEA.

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.