Bhm departing LJ45 pilot complains to tower because of opposite direction arriving BE40 traffic.

Attributes
ACN	596706
Time
Date	200310
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : tcl.vortac
State Reference	AL
Altitude	msl single value : 2200
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : bhm.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Beechjet 400
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : instrument non precision
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : bhm.tracon tower : tcl.tower
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Learjet 45
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 5650 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	596706
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	atc equipment : conflict alert atc equipment other atc equipment : 930 aircraft equipment : tcas aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : 928 other controllera other controllerb other flight crewa other flight crewb other other : 18000
Resolutory Action	controller : separated traffic flight crew : diverted to alternate
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Miss Distance	horizontal : 18000
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Weather ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

Approach controller in bhm lost situational awareness. We checked in to get visual approach to runway 4. Could not pick up field. Asked for and received permission to conduct approach (VOR) runway 22 tcl. Lear 45 was cleared for departure from runway 4, 090 degree heading, 5000 ft. Controller and lear tied up frequency as lear was questioning traffic (me). The controller must have forgotten me, as he never realized I was traffic lear reported. My TCASII never gave a conflict, but apparently the lear's did. He also spent more time complaining to the controller than trying to remedy the situation. The controller made a bad call and the lear spent too much time on the radio.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: BHM DEPARTING LJ45 PLT COMPLAINS TO TWR BECAUSE OF OPPOSITE DIRECTION ARRIVING BE40 TFC.

Narrative: APCH CTLR IN BHM LOST SITUATIONAL AWARENESS. WE CHKED IN TO GET VISUAL APCH TO RWY 4. COULD NOT PICK UP FIELD. ASKED FOR AND RECEIVED PERMISSION TO CONDUCT APCH (VOR) RWY 22 TCL. LEAR 45 WAS CLRED FOR DEP FROM RWY 4, 090 DEG HDG, 5000 FT. CTLR AND LEAR TIED UP FREQ AS LEAR WAS QUESTIONING TFC (ME). THE CTLR MUST HAVE FORGOTTEN ME, AS HE NEVER REALIZED I WAS TFC LEAR RPTED. MY TCASII NEVER GAVE A CONFLICT, BUT APPARENTLY THE LEAR'S DID. HE ALSO SPENT MORE TIME COMPLAINING TO THE CTLR THAN TRYING TO REMEDY THE SIT. THE CTLR MADE A BAD CALL AND THE LEAR SPENT TOO MUCH TIME ON THE RADIO.

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.