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A B757-200 flight crew is asked to 'circle a bit south' by local controller for separation from a DC3 still on active runway. Controller is surprised when B757 starts a 360 degree turn 5 mi west of tjsj, pr.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 486073 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200009 |
| Day | Fri |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : tjsj.airport |
| State Reference | PR |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 900 msl bound upper : 1500 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | B757-200 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Navigation In Use | ils localizer & glide slope : 08 other |
| Flight Phase | descent : vacating altitude |
| Route In Use | approach : visual |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Aircraft 2 | |
| Operator | common carrier : charter |
| Make Model Name | DC-3/Dakota/Skytrain |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 135 |
| Flight Phase | ground : position and hold |
| Flight Plan | VFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : local |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Experience | controller limited radar : 10 |
| ASRS Report | 486073 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : local |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | non adherence : clearance other anomaly other other spatial deviation |
| Independent Detector | other controllera other controllerb |
| Resolutory Action | controller : separated traffic controller : issued alert |
| Consequence | faa : reviewed incident with flight crew |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft ATC Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | ATC Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Operational Deviation Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
Situation: a DC3 was placed into position and hold with a B757 5 mi final. To gain some time, the B757 was instructed to 'circle a bit south' for spacing since the DC3 was taking extra time to roll. The B757 was indicating 170 KTS. Since our runways diverge, it is not unusual to see an aircraft tracking on the ILS to bank on an approximately 2 mi final to proceed straight in to runway 8. This is what we (trainer and I) expected when we realized the B757 was turning too far. I asked the B757 what were his intentions and he said he was doing a 360 degree turn as I asked him to. I quickly coordinated with the appropriate sectors and gave extensive traffic calls to maintain standard separation. There was no loss of separation. The pilot then called the facility (once he landed) to inquire on what happened, and said he understood 'circle' to mean 'make a 360 degree turn'. There are provisions in the FAA order 7110.65 (paragraph 4-8-6) for a circling approach. Misunderstanding 'circle' for 'make a 360 degree turn' could cause unnecessary loss of separation in the future. Please make sure appropriate auths (pilots) are made aware of this to avoid confusion.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A B757-200 FLC IS ASKED TO 'CIRCLE A BIT S' BY LCL CTLR FOR SEPARATION FROM A DC3 STILL ON ACTIVE RWY. CTLR IS SURPRISED WHEN B757 STARTS A 360 DEG TURN 5 MI W OF TJSJ, PR.
Narrative: SIT: A DC3 WAS PLACED INTO POS AND HOLD WITH A B757 5 MI FINAL. TO GAIN SOME TIME, THE B757 WAS INSTRUCTED TO 'CIRCLE A BIT S' FOR SPACING SINCE THE DC3 WAS TAKING EXTRA TIME TO ROLL. THE B757 WAS INDICATING 170 KTS. SINCE OUR RWYS DIVERGE, IT IS NOT UNUSUAL TO SEE AN ACFT TRACKING ON THE ILS TO BANK ON AN APPROX 2 MI FINAL TO PROCEED STRAIGHT IN TO RWY 8. THIS IS WHAT WE (TRAINER AND I) EXPECTED WHEN WE REALIZED THE B757 WAS TURNING TOO FAR. I ASKED THE B757 WHAT WERE HIS INTENTIONS AND HE SAID HE WAS DOING A 360 DEG TURN AS I ASKED HIM TO. I QUICKLY COORDINATED WITH THE APPROPRIATE SECTORS AND GAVE EXTENSIVE TFC CALLS TO MAINTAIN STANDARD SEPARATION. THERE WAS NO LOSS OF SEPARATION. THE PLT THEN CALLED THE FACILITY (ONCE HE LANDED) TO INQUIRE ON WHAT HAPPENED, AND SAID HE UNDERSTOOD 'CIRCLE' TO MEAN 'MAKE A 360 DEG TURN'. THERE ARE PROVISIONS IN THE FAA ORDER 7110.65 (PARAGRAPH 4-8-6) FOR A CIRCLING APCH. MISUNDERSTANDING 'CIRCLE' FOR 'MAKE A 360 DEG TURN' COULD CAUSE UNNECESSARY LOSS OF SEPARATION IN THE FUTURE. PLEASE MAKE SURE APPROPRIATE AUTHS (PLTS) ARE MADE AWARE OF THIS TO AVOID CONFUSION.
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.