Narrative:

Main issue: unsafe pilot and jump operation over a major arrival route at phoenix sky harbor. This situation; or one closely related; is extremely common in this airspace. The events detailed below describe just one example of a very serious issue that ATC faces at least weekly. Chain of events: aircraft #1 GULF4; inbound to scottsdale on the sunss arrival descending to 9000 ft. Aircraft #2 maneuvering toward P08 airport to release jumpers. ATC recognizes aircraft #2 is outside the proper climb zone. After a brief discussion with pilot; pilot agrees is outside the zone and will adjust his climb on the next jump to comply with procedures set forth in the LOA. ATC called traffic to both aircraft. Aircraft #1 states he has aircraft #2 in sight. Aircraft #2 copied traffic call and states he is looking for aircraft #1 on TCAS. ATC switches communications of aircraft #1 to phoenix approach. Aircraft #1 states; 'before I go; jumpers have left the aircraft. Does that concur?' ATC confirms with aircraft #2 that jumpers are exiting the aircraft at that time. ATC reminds aircraft #2 of the proper procedures prior to unloading jumpers; including communications 1 min prior to release. Result: aircraft #2 (12500 ft) released jumpers directly over aircraft #1 (approximately 9000 ft) without proper communications or permission from ATC; thereby endangering human life. Cause: the pilot of aircraft #2 violated the LOA. Suggested corrective actions: eliminate jump activity from P08 and restrict all jump activity to eloy municipal airport (E60). The majority of aircraft are descending to 11000 ft on this arrival route at phoenix sky harbor. Therefore; restricting jumpers from P08 to 10500 ft would avoid arriving aircraft.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZAB CTLR DESCRIBED CONFLICT NEAR P08 ARPT AT 9000 BETWEEN PARACHUTE ACTIVITY AND PHX AREA ARR ACFT.

Narrative: MAIN ISSUE: UNSAFE PLT AND JUMP OP OVER A MAJOR ARR RTE AT PHOENIX SKY HARBOR. THIS SITUATION; OR ONE CLOSELY RELATED; IS EXTREMELY COMMON IN THIS AIRSPACE. THE EVENTS DETAILED BELOW DESCRIBE JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE THAT ATC FACES AT LEAST WEEKLY. CHAIN OF EVENTS: ACFT #1 GULF4; INBOUND TO SCOTTSDALE ON THE SUNSS ARR DSNDING TO 9000 FT. ACFT #2 MANEUVERING TOWARD P08 ARPT TO RELEASE JUMPERS. ATC RECOGNIZES ACFT #2 IS OUTSIDE THE PROPER CLB ZONE. AFTER A BRIEF DISCUSSION WITH PLT; PLT AGREES IS OUTSIDE THE ZONE AND WILL ADJUST HIS CLB ON THE NEXT JUMP TO COMPLY WITH PROCS SET FORTH IN THE LOA. ATC CALLED TFC TO BOTH ACFT. ACFT #1 STATES HE HAS ACFT #2 IN SIGHT. ACFT #2 COPIED TFC CALL AND STATES HE IS LOOKING FOR ACFT #1 ON TCAS. ATC SWITCHES COMS OF ACFT #1 TO PHOENIX APCH. ACFT #1 STATES; 'BEFORE I GO; JUMPERS HAVE LEFT THE ACFT. DOES THAT CONCUR?' ATC CONFIRMS WITH ACFT #2 THAT JUMPERS ARE EXITING THE ACFT AT THAT TIME. ATC REMINDS ACFT #2 OF THE PROPER PROCS PRIOR TO UNLOADING JUMPERS; INCLUDING COMS 1 MIN PRIOR TO RELEASE. RESULT: ACFT #2 (12500 FT) RELEASED JUMPERS DIRECTLY OVER ACFT #1 (APPROX 9000 FT) WITHOUT PROPER COMS OR PERMISSION FROM ATC; THEREBY ENDANGERING HUMAN LIFE. CAUSE: THE PLT OF ACFT #2 VIOLATED THE LOA. SUGGESTED CORRECTIVE ACTIONS: ELIMINATE JUMP ACTIVITY FROM P08 AND RESTRICT ALL JUMP ACTIVITY TO ELOY MUNICIPAL ARPT (E60). THE MAJORITY OF ACFT ARE DSNDING TO 11000 FT ON THIS ARR RTE AT PHOENIX SKY HARBOR. THEREFORE; RESTRICTING JUMPERS FROM P08 TO 10500 FT WOULD AVOID ARRIVING ACFT.

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.