Aviation safety investigations & reports
Loss of separation involving CASA C212-CC, VH-MQD, operating in the Richmond parachuting area, and Boeing 737-7BX, VH VBP, near Richmond Aerodrome, NSW, 5 November 2011
AO-2011-142

Summary
What happened
On 5 November 2011, a Construcciones Aeronáuticas S A C212-CC (C212) aircraft, registered VH-MQD, was conducting parachute operations, in controlled airspace, over the Western Grass Drop Zone at Royal Australian Air Force Base Richmond Aerodrome (Richmond), New South Wales (NSW). Air traffic control (ATC) had assigned the C212 flight crew clearance to conduct a parachute drop.
A Boeing Company 737-7BX (737) aircraft, registered VH-VBP, operating a scheduled passenger flight from Sydney, NSW to Cairns, Queensland, was cleared by ATC to track via Richmond, underneath the C212. A loss of separation occurred between the declared parachute operations area and the 737. At the time, the paratroopers had just exited the C212 and ATC issued the 737 flight crew, who were in the process of taking avoiding action, with a safety alert. The last paratrooper out of the aircraft reported that while in free fall and about 10 seconds after exiting the aircraft, they were at the same altitude as the 737, about 2,000 m away.
What the ATSB found
The ATSB identified that Airservices Australia (Airservices) had no standard, documented procedure to assure separation of aircraft departing Sydney via Richmond during parachute operations at Richmond, nor a documented means for controllers to display in the air traffic control computer system when a parachute drop clearance had been issued.
The ATSB also found that two of the controllers involved had not been provided with training in compromised separation recovery techniques. Furthermore, Airservices’ process for recognition of prior learning, and the subsequent training provided to one of the controllers, had not effectively addressed the variances between that controller’s skills and knowledge (after an absence working overseas) and the operational role requirements of a Sydney Terminal Control Unit air traffic controller.
What's been done as a result
Airservices advised that the Sydney Terminal Control Unit Local Instructions were amended to include a requirement for coordination between the Sydney Approach West controller and the adjacent Departures position when parachute operations were being conducted at Richmond.
Airservices also amended their procedures manual to include human-machine interface directives for the display of information for aircraft involved in parachute operations.
Safety message
This occurrence highlights three important safety lessons for air traffic controllers and flight crew:
- Documented procedures and phraseology are crucial when managing risks associated with unfamiliar operations
- Terminal area speed restrictions help maintain aircraft separation— air traffic controllers should always consider the potential safety implications before cancelling a speed restriction
- Flight crews need to be aware that the cancellation of a speed restriction may not always be available when requested, due to operational ATC requirements.
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Safety Issues
Procedures to establish separation assurance
There was no documented procedure for assuring the separation of aircraft departing from Sydney with parachute operations at Richmond, increasing the likelihood that Sydney Terminal Control Unit controllers would have differing expectations as to their control and coordination requirements in respect of these operations.
Issue number: | AO-2011-142-SI-01 |
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Who it affects: | All Sydney Terminal Control Unit Sydney Approach West and Sydney Departures South controllers |
Status: | Safety action pending |
Drop clearance indication procedures
Local and national air traffic control procedures did not prescribe the means for controllers to indicate in the air traffic control system that a parachute drop clearance had been issued.
Issue number: | AO-2011-142-SI-02 |
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Who it affects: | All controllers using The Australian Advanced Air Traffic System |
Status: | Adequately addressed |
General details
Date: | 05 November 2011 | Investigation status: | Completed | ||
Time: | 1443 EDT | Investigation level: | Systemic - click for an explanation of investigation levels | ||
Location (show map): | near Richmond Airport | ||||
State: | New South Wales | Occurrence type: | Loss of separation assurance | ||
Release date: | 16 December 2013 | Occurrence category: | Incident | ||
Report status: | Final | Highest injury level: | None |
Aircraft 1 details
Aircraft manufacturer | Construciones Aeronáuticas S A | |
---|---|---|
Aircraft model | C-212 | |
Aircraft registration | VH-MQD | |
Serial number | 272 | |
Type of operation | Aerial Work | |
Sector | Turboprop | |
Damage to aircraft | Nil | |
Departure point | Richmond, NSW | |
Destination | Richmond, NSW |
Aircraft 2 details
Aircraft manufacturer | The Boeing Company | |
---|---|---|
Aircraft model | 737 | |
Aircraft registration | VH-VBP | |
Serial number | 30743 | |
Operator | Virgin Australia | |
Type of operation | Air Transport High Capacity | |
Sector | Jet | |
Damage to aircraft | Nil | |
Departure point | Sydney, NSW | |
Destination | Cairns, Qld |