ZLA controller described a TCAS RA event between a VFR overflight and a lax loop departure; the repo...

Narrative:

An A320 was climbing on the Loop6 departure off lax to FL230 and a BE36 was southbound at VFR/175 direct danah intersection direct crq. I realized the aircraft were going to get closer than I originally thought so I stopped the A320 at 17;000 ft. I called traffic to both aircraft. The BE36 said he would start his VFR descent soon and I asked that he not descend until he had the A320 in sight; the BE36 'rogered' me. The A320 said he was responding to an RA but I did not see the A320 descend or turn or anything. The A320 then said the BE36 was only 300 ft above him and he wasn't sure what that was all about. I told the A320 my radar showed the BE36 500 ft above. The A320 told me they were going to file a report on the incident and I 'rogered' his transmission. I told the BE36 the traffic was no factor and they could start their VFR descent. The A320 asked if I had a new clearance for them so I climbed them to FL230. Recommendation; I would use 1;500 ft of separation between VFR and IFR aircraft. However in this case the A320 was already going to go through 16;000 ft. I could have descended the A320 back down to 16;000 ft. I could have turned both aircraft as well.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZLA Controller described a TCAS RA event between a VFR overflight and a LAX Loop departure; the reporter noting more than minimal IFR/VFR separation may have prevented the occurrence.

Narrative: An A320 was climbing on the Loop6 departure off LAX to FL230 and a BE36 was southbound at VFR/175 direct DANAH Intersection direct CRQ. I realized the aircraft were going to get closer than I originally thought so I stopped the A320 at 17;000 FT. I called traffic to both aircraft. The BE36 said he would start his VFR descent soon and I asked that he not descend until he had the A320 in sight; the BE36 'rogered' me. The A320 said he was responding to an RA but I did not see the A320 descend or turn or anything. The A320 then said the BE36 was only 300 FT above him and he wasn't sure what that was all about. I told the A320 my RADAR showed the BE36 500 FT above. The A320 told me they were going to file a report on the incident and I 'rogered' his transmission. I told the BE36 the traffic was no factor and they could start their VFR descent. The A320 asked if I had a new clearance for them so I climbed them to FL230. Recommendation; I would use 1;500 FT of separation between VFR and IFR aircraft. However in this case the A320 was already going to go through 16;000 FT. I could have descended the A320 back down to 16;000 FT. I could have turned both aircraft as well.

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.

Attributes
ACN	943390
Time
Date	201104
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	ZLA.ARTCC
State Reference	CA
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Cruise
Route In Use	SID LOOP 6
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Bonanza 36
Flight Phase	Cruise
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Function	Enroute
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Conflict Airborne Conflict

ZLA controller described a TCAS RA event between a VFR overflight and a lax loop departure; the reporter noting more than minimal IFR/VFR separation may have prevented the occurrence.