Narrative:

FAA 7110.65 chapter 8 section 5 paragraph 3 opposite direction traffic for transitioning from offshore to oceanic airspace opposite direction describes the separation standard that shall be applied and appears it should be applied at ZNY offshore radar sectors. After reviewing this section; I brought to the attention of the on-duty supervisor and on-duty omic that this separation standard was not being properly applied at ZNY ARTCC. I had just worked a push at sector R86 and believed that I may have been involved in several losses of separation. I was concerned that this change to the 7110.65 was never properly briefed and/or taught to the controllers who work in this environment every day. After discussion with the omic on duty and the oceanic omic; I was told to continue to operate as we had in the past in direct violation of FAA 7110.65 8-5-3 I was told that somewhere in the ICAO documents we are allowed to operate R86 using reduced separation standards. However; the document was not immediately available for review. The way R86 atlantic sector is currently configured; the majority of the aircraft transitioning in this airspace will suffer from losses of separation. The change to the rules was never properly implemented; trained or applied to the sector operation.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZNY CTLR QUESTIONED FAC OCEANIC ALT SEPARATION PROC THAT ALLEGEDLY IS IN CONFLICT WITH 7110.65 DIRECTIVES.

Narrative: FAA 7110.65 CHAPTER 8 SECTION 5 PARAGRAPH 3 OPPOSITE DIRECTION TFC FOR TRANSITIONING FROM OFFSHORE TO OCEANIC AIRSPACE OPPOSITE DIRECTION DESCRIBES THE SEPARATION STANDARD THAT SHALL BE APPLIED AND APPEARS IT SHOULD BE APPLIED AT ZNY OFFSHORE RADAR SECTORS. AFTER REVIEWING THIS SECTION; I BROUGHT TO THE ATTN OF THE ON-DUTY SUPVR AND ON-DUTY OMIC THAT THIS SEPARATION STANDARD WAS NOT BEING PROPERLY APPLIED AT ZNY ARTCC. I HAD JUST WORKED A PUSH AT SECTOR R86 AND BELIEVED THAT I MAY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN SEVERAL LOSSES OF SEPARATION. I WAS CONCERNED THAT THIS CHANGE TO THE 7110.65 WAS NEVER PROPERLY BRIEFED AND/OR TAUGHT TO THE CTLRS WHO WORK IN THIS ENVIRONMENT EVERY DAY. AFTER DISCUSSION WITH THE OMIC ON DUTY AND THE OCEANIC OMIC; I WAS TOLD TO CONTINUE TO OPERATE AS WE HAD IN THE PAST IN DIRECT VIOLATION OF FAA 7110.65 8-5-3 I WAS TOLD THAT SOMEWHERE IN THE ICAO DOCUMENTS WE ARE ALLOWED TO OPERATE R86 USING REDUCED SEPARATION STANDARDS. HOWEVER; THE DOCUMENT WAS NOT IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW. THE WAY R86 ATLANTIC SECTOR IS CURRENTLY CONFIGURED; THE MAJORITY OF THE ACFT TRANSITIONING IN THIS AIRSPACE WILL SUFFER FROM LOSSES OF SEPARATION. THE CHANGE TO THE RULES WAS NEVER PROPERLY IMPLEMENTED; TRAINED OR APPLIED TO THE SECTOR OP.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 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.