November 2017, airblue Airbus A321 and PIA Airbus A320 TCAS RA Final Investigation Report

[Abbas Ali]

Final investigation report uploaded on July 21, 2023, on http://aviation.gov.pk/

On 29th November, 2017, Airblue flight ABQ 200, Airbus 321 aircraft, Reg. No. AP-BMW was operating from Jinnah International Airport (JIAP), Karachi (OPKC) to Benazir Bhutto International Airport (BBIAP), Islamabad (OPRN) on route Karachi – Airway J112 – MOLTA – Airway J142 – MATIN – Airway J121 – Islamabad. Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight PIA 313 Airbus 320 aircraft, Reg. No. AP-BLV was operating from AIIAP, Lahore (OPLA) to JIAP, Karachi (OPKC) on route Airway J112. PIA 313 came in contact with Karachi Area Control East maintaining FL340. Karachi Area Control East passed Air Traffic Control clearance to arrival (PIA 313), which was acknowledged by PIA 313. ABQ 200 departed from Karachi at 02:30:00. While climbing FL310, ABQ 200 came in contact with Karachi Area Control East at time 02:53:00 and was asked for final requested level. Karachi Area Control East initially cleared ABQ 200 to FL310 and after confirmation of final level, re-cleared to FL350 at 02:54:00. At 03:08:20, ABQ 200 reported Traffic Alert & Collision Avoidance System – Resolution Advisory (TCAS – RA) while passing FL335↑ whereas at that time reciprocal parallel traffic PIA 313 was approximately 6.5 NM apart maintaining FL340.

All available evidences have been analyzed by AAIB Pakistan. No damage to the aircraft or injuries to the passengers / crew of both the flights were reported. At the time of minimum vertical separation of 500 ft, both aircraft (ABQ 200 & PIA 313) were 05.66 NM laterally separated on parallel tack. ABQ 200 descended to FL334 and crossed parallel reciprocal traffic (PIA 313) at 04.33 NM.

The TCAS – RA alert might be erroneous; however, subject incident may be considered as loss of separation due to lack of situational awareness on the part of Air Traffic Control. Appropriate recommendations have been made for PCAA.

Safety Recommendations

4.1.1 PCAA

4.1.1.1 PCAA may issue necessary instructions to field ATS Units for adhering to the laid down procedures for the provisioning of Air Traffic Services in accordance with ICAO guidelines and best practices, with special emphasis on the aspects related to this serious incident.

4.1.1.2 PCAA may issue directions to field ATS Units for adhering to the laid down procedure for the provisioning of Air Traffic Services (Vectoring / Traffic Information) in accordance with ICAO Doc 4444 and as described in Manual of Air Traffic Service.

4.1.1.3 PCAA may issue specific directions to field ATC Units for adhering procedures in accordance with the SARPs and guidelines issued in SATIs specific to mention procedures for handing over and taking over especially before the beginning of duty.

4.1.1.4 PCAA may issue instructions at field level (Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad) to arrange simulator sessions (on Area Control simulators) at a specified periodicity, for all the Air Traffic Controllers. This utilization of Area Control simulators be aimed to enhance and refine the skills and identify areas of additional attention / training requirements etc.

Complete report here: http://aviation.gov.pk/SiteImage/Misc/f ... BQ-200.pdf

[contrails]

These ATCOs will most definitely cause an accident in the coming days.
No wonder CAA issued a harsh note warning them of severe consequences in terms of negligence on their part.