ZAB controller described conflict at 37000 between learjet and a WX balloon not being tracked by ATC...

Attributes
ACN	726521
Time
Date	200610
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : elp.vortac
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl single value : 37000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zab.artcc
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Gates Learjet Corp Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 6 controller time certified in position1 : 3
ASRS Report	726521
Person 2
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Miss Distance	horizontal : 900 vertical : 0
Supplementary
Problem Areas	FAA
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

Learjet asked if center tracks WX balloons. I replied; 'sometimes; usually if they're large.' the plane replies that they just had a good size balloon with equipment hanging below it pass within 300 yards. The specialty I work is southern new mexico and the big bend of texas. We often work large WX balloons in the summer from ft sumner; NM. We provide advisories and off course vectors if requested. There are no separation requirements. The balloons go over 100000 ft; and then descend after a period of time. There are a few safety issues. One is enormous frequency congestion when pilots ask repeatedly for information. Another is that the system counts on 'the big sky theory' to keep planes and balloons safely apart. Most controllers I have asked feel it is only a matter of time until there is an accident. A third issue is the congested flow of traffic over the elp/ewm area between mexico and white sands restr areas; making this; and I'm sure many other areas in the country; more likely to create problems when a balloon is released.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZAB CTLR DESCRIBED CONFLICT AT 37000 BETWEEN LEARJET AND A WX BALLOON NOT BEING TRACKED BY ATC.

Narrative: LEARJET ASKED IF CTR TRACKS WX BALLOONS. I REPLIED; 'SOMETIMES; USUALLY IF THEY'RE LARGE.' THE PLANE REPLIES THAT THEY JUST HAD A GOOD SIZE BALLOON WITH EQUIP HANGING BELOW IT PASS WITHIN 300 YARDS. THE SPECIALTY I WORK IS SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO AND THE BIG BEND OF TEXAS. WE OFTEN WORK LARGE WX BALLOONS IN THE SUMMER FROM FT SUMNER; NM. WE PROVIDE ADVISORIES AND OFF COURSE VECTORS IF REQUESTED. THERE ARE NO SEPARATION REQUIREMENTS. THE BALLOONS GO OVER 100000 FT; AND THEN DSND AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME. THERE ARE A FEW SAFETY ISSUES. ONE IS ENORMOUS FREQ CONGESTION WHEN PLTS ASK REPEATEDLY FOR INFO. ANOTHER IS THAT THE SYS COUNTS ON 'THE BIG SKY THEORY' TO KEEP PLANES AND BALLOONS SAFELY APART. MOST CTLRS I HAVE ASKED FEEL IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL THERE IS AN ACCIDENT. A THIRD ISSUE IS THE CONGESTED FLOW OF TFC OVER THE ELP/EWM AREA BTWN MEXICO AND WHITE SANDS RESTR AREAS; MAKING THIS; AND I'M SURE MANY OTHER AREAS IN THE COUNTRY; MORE LIKELY TO CREATE PROBS WHEN A BALLOON IS RELEASED.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.