Captain Bloggs, you state
“Well, on with the show. A couple of near-hits ain’t gunna stop me!”
You imply that I do not have a concern for aviation safety. I can assure you that the opposite is the truth.
Following is a list of just some of the serious unalerted see and avoid and RA incidents which took place before 27 November 2003. Please note that all of these have simply been filed in respective databases and no proper "system safety" action has been taken.
The plan of the NAS is to reduce the number of these serious incidents. You will no doubt note that most of these serious incidents take place close to the aerodrome area where the risk of collision is highest. The new airspace system, following international practice, will concentrate resources close to the aerodrome to reduce this type of serious incident.
Captain Bloggs, can you advise why you have never campaigned against the very high number of incidents (as shown on the list) that take place close to the aerodrome area in the airspace before 27 November 2003?
I look forward to your advice.
Incidents before 27 November 2003 – no emotive media releases, no Category 3s
1. BOEING 747 POTENTIAL MID-AIR COLLISION – 400 LIVES!
Brisbane. Occurrence number 9601917. Incident category 4.
An air traffic controller made an error where an air transport Boeing 747 could have collided into the rear of an air transport BAe146 jet. The report states, “Had the aircraft not been fitted with ACAS, or had the crew not queried the controller, there was the possibility of a collision. Without an ACAS the crew may have observed the BAe146 through the aircraft’s windscreen, however this would have been subject to the crew’s cockpit workload.”
2. NEAR MISS, UNALERTED SEE AND AVOID, “FILLED THE SCREEN”
Taree. Occurrence number 9701187. Incident category 4.
A Piper Chieftain was enroute from Williamtown to Kempsey at 9,000 ft, and an air transport Dash 8 was flying from Taree to Sydney. The Chieftain had the Dash 8 fly across and directly in front of them. The crew of the Chieftain said the aircraft “filled the screen”. The Dash 8 crew knew nothing of the incident until they landed. Neither aircraft was given traffic on the other.
3. AIR TRANSPORT DASH 8 AND AIR TRANSPORT BEECH 1900 NEAR MID-AIR COLLISION 400 FEET APART
23 February 2000 – Port Macquarie
Occurrence number 200000637. Incident category 4.
An air transport Dash 8 aircraft was inbound for Port Macquarie and broadcast that they would be conducting a straight in approach for runway 03. An air transport Beech 1900, replied that they were taxiing for reciprocal runway 21 for departure to Kempsey. The pilot of the Dash 8 then observed the Beech aircraft about 400’ directly ahead of them and climbing through their level. They immediately received a traffic alert and collision-avoidance system alert with a full red arc above level flight resolution advisory.
4. AIR TRANSPORT SAAB NEAR MID-AIR COLLISION – 200 FEET AWAY!
18 November 2000 – Orange.
Occurrence number 200005598. Incident category 5.
The crew of an air transport Saab was conducting a GPS arrival from the west. The crew of a Piper Archer were intending to climb in the circuit to depart to the southeast from overhead, and the Saab crew requested that the Archer remain north of the field to avoid conflict. However at 3 DME, the Saab flight crew received a TCAS TA with the Archer turned to track south overhead the airfield. The TCAS alert was followed shortly afterwards by a TCAS RA to descend. During the descent, the Saab crew became visual and sighted the Piper approximately 200 ft away.
5. TCAS RESOLUTION ADVISORY MAY HAVE PREVENTED MID-AIR COLLISION UNALERTED SEE AND AVOID
14 June 2001 – Alice Springs
Occurrence number 200102845. Incident category 5.
During the departure climb to intercept track and approaching 5,000 ft, the air transport Fokker 100 jet aircraft’s TCAS activated a TA followed by an RA. The crew took immediate action and the warning ceased.
6. AIR TRANSPORT BOEING 717 JET NEAR MISS – UNALERTED SEE AND AVOID – BUT CATEGORY 5!
23 September 2003 – Hamilton Island
Occurrence number 200304044. Incident category 5.
The crew of an air transport Boeing 717 were making a visual approach via right base to runway 14 when they received a TCAS TA. They saw a general aviation aircraft pass approximately 600 – 700 ft below their aircraft. During their descent after turning onto base, they received a TCAS RA.
7. AIR TRANSPORT JET FORCED TO GO AROUND TO PREVENT POSSIBLE COLLISION
17 July 2000 – Alice Springs
Occurrence number 200003093. Incident category 4.
An air transport BAe146 jet was inbound from the north east and was instructed to make visual approach to runway 12 on a left circuit. When the BAe146 was on final approach, the crew sighted an Arrow approximately 1 nm ahead and descending through their level. They commenced a go-around and manoeuvred to the right to pass behind the Arrow. The pilot of the Arrow had misinterpreted the controller’s instructions and had tracked for a circuit because he was not set up for a straight-in approach.
8. TCAS MAY HAVE PREVENTED MID-AIR COLLISION
5 December 2000 – Tamworth
Occurrence number 200005957. Incident category 5.
An air transport Dash 8 was on descent to 3,500 ft for arrival at Tamworth. At approximately 4,000 ft the airline crew received a TCAS TA alert on a CT4 aircraft that was climbing to 2,500 ft on a training flight. Shortly after, the crew of the Dash 8 received an RA and maintained 4,000 ft. The TCAS indicated that the CT4 was approximately 900 ft below the Dash 8.
9. AIR TRANSPORT BOEING 717 UNALERTED SEE AND AVOID
6 January 2002 – Maroochydore
Occurrence number 200200146. Incident category 5.
The crew of an air transport Boeing 717 reported that on commencing descent from 1,000 ft they received a TCAS TA followed immediately by an RA to climb. A go-around was made followed by a visual right circuit for runway 36. The alert was activated as a result of a rescue helicopter operating at 200 ft. There was no advice from the air traffic control tower staff of the helicopter.
10. LEAR JET NEAR MISS – 500 METRES APART
18 May 2003 – Tamworth
Occurrence number 200302447. Incident category 5.
A light aircraft was observed by the ATC to have entered CTA without a clearance and conflict with a Lear Jet inbound and on descent for base for runway 12. ATC estimated the aircraft proximity as 500 ft vertically and 500 metres horizontally.
11. AIR TRANSPORT DASH 8 MISSED APPROACH TO AVOID COLLISION UNALERTED SEE AND AVOID
25 November 2000 – Williamtown
Occurrence number 200005642. Incident category 5.
The flight crew of an air transport Dash 8 aircraft inbound to Williamtown had noticed an aircraft on their TCAS. The pilot of the Dash 8 had turned right to avoid the other aircraft and had made numerous broadcasts without response from the other aircraft’s pilot. As the Dash 8 was joining crosswind for the circuit for runway 12 the other aircraft, a Piper Cherokee, passed within approximately 500 ft. The crew of the Dash 8 then carried out a missed approach when they observed the Cherokee on final for runway 30.
12. AIR TRANSPORT FOKKER 27 UNALERTED SEE AND AVOID TCAS USED TO PREVENT MID-AIR COLLISION
12 January 2001 – Geraldton
Occurrence number 200100220. Incident category 5.
During the descent, the air transport Fokker 27 aircraft’s TCAS RA activated. Conditions at the time were overcast. Attempts to contact the crew of the other aircraft, a Mooney, were unsuccessful. Subsequently, contact was established on the area frequency and the position of the Mooney aircraft was confirmed. The airline crew reported that avoidance action was required to prevent a collision.
13. AIRLINE CREW TOOK EVASIVE ACTION TO PREVENT COLLISION UNALERTED SEE AND AVOID
29 March 2001 – Bundaberg
Occurrence number 200101479. Incident category 5.
The crew of an air transport Jetstream aircraft had made all necessary radio calls for departure, but no response was heard. The aircraft was on runway heading after take-off, when the co-pilot sighted a light aircraft on a conflicting track ahead and above. The crew took evasive action and endeavoured to identify the other aircraft without success. No transponder response had been obtained from the other aircraft.
14. AIRLINE DASH 8 “EVASIVE MANOEUVRE” SAVES MID-AIR COLLISION
12 April 2001 – Dubbo
Occurrence number 200101714. Incident category 5.
The crew of an air transport Dash 8 reported that when they taxied for departure, and in reply to their transmission, the crew of a Cessna 152 responded that they were operating in the circuit area. The airline crew requested that the Cessna crew advise when turning onto final, then lined up the Dash 8 on runway 23. The airline crew had not heard a call from the Cessna and commenced their take off run. As they were committed to take off and about to become airborne, the Cessna 152 was sighted ahead and above at low altitude. An evasive manoeuvre was carried out by the Dash 8 crew.
15. AIRLINE DASH 8 UNALAERTED SEE AND AVOID – NEAR MISS
24 April 2001 – Dubbo
Occurrence number 200101900. Incident category 5.
The crew of an air transport Dash 8 reported that while they were on descent for landing, the aircraft’s TCAS activated an RA on opposite direction VFR traffic climbing towards them. All the appropriate radio broadcasts had been made with no response from the other aircraft. They responded to the TCAS advice by climbing their aircraft which caused tem to re-enter IMC. When the other aircraft had passed they descended again for an uneventful landing.