Narrative:

Developmental and trainer had spotted this pair as traffic many minutes before they lost separation. Temperature was cold; and the departure off ZZZ was climbing well; so the developmental thought he could top the descending ZZZ1 arrival. When it became likely that this plan would fail; the controller turned the CRJ2 20 degrees left. The track of the CRJ2 did not show a turn; and very shortly before separation was lost; the aircraft was turned left an additional 20 degrees. Conversation between the trainer and the pilot had the pilot claiming that he had heard clearances and made both turns. Even when it was obvious that the turns were not having the desired effect; there was still time to establish vertical separation. However; the separation would likely have to have occurred at non-cardinal altitudes. After a couple exchanges with the E190; that aircraft stopped his descent at FL225. I believe that there would have been time to stop the CRJ2 underneath him at FL215. The problem with this is that younger less experienced controllers fall into a pattern of aiming for cardinal altitudes only. Another alternative would have been to use the phrases 'stop climb' or 'stop descent'. These are last ditch efforts that would have been more likely to work in this situation than additional turns. 'Expedite' is another option that was not invoked with either aircraft. It might be effective to provide tapes or falcons with voice of real situations where separation was maintained using these or other innovative methods. The combined position was staffed appropriately for the level and complexity of the traffic. Recommendation; drill all controllers; especially the younger ones; on alternative means for ensuring vertical separation; especially means that do not rely on the use of cardinal altitude assignment.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Enroute Supervisory Controller described a loss of separation event when the controller failed to take alternative action/s to insure separation.

Narrative: Developmental and trainer had spotted this pair as traffic many minutes before they lost separation. Temperature was cold; and the departure off ZZZ was climbing well; so the developmental thought he could top the descending ZZZ1 arrival. When it became likely that this plan would fail; the controller turned the CRJ2 20 degrees left. The track of the CRJ2 did not show a turn; and very shortly before separation was lost; the aircraft was turned left an additional 20 degrees. Conversation between the trainer and the pilot had the pilot claiming that he had heard clearances and made both turns. Even when it was obvious that the turns were not having the desired effect; there was still time to establish vertical separation. However; the separation would likely have to have occurred at non-cardinal altitudes. After a couple exchanges with the E190; that aircraft stopped his descent at FL225. I believe that there would have been time to stop the CRJ2 underneath him at FL215. The problem with this is that younger less experienced controllers fall into a pattern of aiming for cardinal altitudes only. Another alternative would have been to use the phrases 'Stop Climb' or 'Stop Descent'. These are last ditch efforts that would have been more likely to work in this situation than additional turns. 'Expedite' is another option that was not invoked with either aircraft. It might be effective to provide tapes or Falcons with Voice of real situations where separation was maintained using these or other innovative methods. The combined position was staffed appropriately for the level and complexity of the traffic. Recommendation; drill all controllers; especially the younger ones; on alternative means for ensuring vertical separation; especially means that do not rely on the use of cardinal altitude assignment.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.