Less than standard separation between 2 air carrier's at high altitude, opposite direction.

Attributes
ACN	81292
Time
Date	198802
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : hvq
State Reference	WV
Altitude	msl bound lower : 29400 msl bound upper : 31000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zid tower : cmh
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	oversight : supervisor
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 15 controller supervisory : 3
ASRS Report	81292
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : handoff position
Qualification	controller : non radar
Experience	controller non radar : 3 controller radar : 1
ASRS Report	81668
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : unspecified other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance none taken : insufficient time other
Consequence	faa : investigated
Miss Distance	horizontal : 21000 vertical : 1600
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

At the time of this incident the controller was working 13 aircraft (on frequency). When the controller attempted to maintain sep by turning both aircraft and descending 1 aircraft to a lower altitude, the aircraft being turned and descended took an extra 20 seconds to deliberately question the clearance, 'let me see, do you want me to des to fl 2-9-0 and turn 30 degrees to the left?' the controller then had to repeat the clearance such that by the time this aircraft reported level at FL290 sep had been lost. Although the aim states that ATC clrncs should be complied with as 'expediciously as possible,' in far too many instances controllers not only have to state the clearance but they have to explain the clearance. If pilots want service, they should give compliance to ATC clrncs their best priority. Supplemental information from acn 81668: this controller had just become fpl.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LESS THAN STANDARD SEPARATION BETWEEN 2 ACR'S AT HIGH ALT, OPPOSITE DIRECTION.

Narrative: AT THE TIME OF THIS INCIDENT THE CTLR WAS WORKING 13 ACFT (ON FREQ). WHEN THE CTLR ATTEMPTED TO MAINTAIN SEP BY TURNING BOTH ACFT AND DSNDING 1 ACFT TO A LOWER ALT, THE ACFT BEING TURNED AND DESCENDED TOOK AN EXTRA 20 SECS TO DELIBERATELY QUESTION THE CLRNC, 'LET ME SEE, DO YOU WANT ME TO DES TO FL 2-9-0 AND TURN 30 DEGS TO THE LEFT?' THE CTLR THEN HAD TO REPEAT THE CLRNC SUCH THAT BY THE TIME THIS ACFT RPTED LEVEL AT FL290 SEP HAD BEEN LOST. ALTHOUGH THE AIM STATES THAT ATC CLRNCS SHOULD BE COMPLIED WITH AS 'EXPEDICIOUSLY AS POSSIBLE,' IN FAR TOO MANY INSTANCES CTLRS NOT ONLY HAVE TO STATE THE CLRNC BUT THEY HAVE TO EXPLAIN THE CLRNC. IF PLTS WANT SVC, THEY SHOULD GIVE COMPLIANCE TO ATC CLRNCS THEIR BEST PRIORITY. SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION FROM ACN 81668: THIS CTLR HAD JUST BECOME FPL.

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