Loss of separation Boeing 767, N601EV and a Boeing 747, 9M-MPD, 9 km south of Bindook, New South Wales, on 21 September 1998

Air traffic control had issued the crew of a foreign Boeing 767 (B767) with an instruction to hold at Bindook. Although the published holding procedure required a left pattern, the crew turned the aircraft for a right pattern. The right turn subsequently placed the aircraft into conflict with a Boeing 747, which was being radar vectored to the south of Bindook. Separation was reduced to approximately 700 ft vertically, and 4 NM laterally. The required separation standard was 1,000 ft, or 5 NM.

An investigation revealed that the crew did not locate the holding pattern on the Jeppesen terminal chart. The depiction of the holding pattern was difficult to distinguish from other markings on the chart and the pattern was not displayed on the appropriate Standard Arrival Route (STAR) chart. In addition, the holding pattern was not loaded in the aircraft's flight management computer database. The Captain of the B767 reported that in the USA, where a holding pattern is not displayed, or in the absence of other information, a "default" right hand pattern is to be flown. There is no such procedure in Australia. As a result, the Captain elected to fly a right hand pattern without checking with air traffic control for holding pattern information.