Aviation Investigation Report A94O0194

A Learjet 35A was flying from the Toronto/Lester B. Pearson International Airport (LBPIA), Ontario, to the Hamilton Airport at 5,000 feet while a Convair 340/580 was flying in the opposite direction, from the Hamilton Airport to LBPIA, also at 5,000 feet. Spacing between the two aircraft was reduced to about two miles lateral and 600 feet vertical spacing where five miles lateral or 1,000 feet vertical spacing is required.

The Board determined that an air proximity event occurred because the Terminal controllers did not follow procedures as prescribed in the Terminal sector manual, and there was a lack of coordination between the Terminal and Hamilton sector controllers.

1.1 History of the Flight

Samaritan Air flight Halo 404 (HLO404), a Learjet 35A, departed runway 24 Right at LBPIA, and was on an instrument flight rules (IFR)1 flight to Hamilton Airport, Ontario, in level flight at 5,000 feet above sea level2 (asl).

Jetall flight Firefly 712 (JTL712), a Convair 340/580, departed runway 12 Left at Hamilton Airport and was on an IFR flight to LBPIA, in level flight at 5,000 feet asl.

An air proximity event occurred 25 nautical miles (nm) southwest of LBPIA when the aircraft passed in opposite directions with about two miles lateral and 600 feet vertical spacing where five miles lateral or 1,000 feet vertical spacing is required. (See Appendix A.)

The incident occurred at

1035 eastern daylight saving time (EDT)3 during the hours of daylight.

1. See Glossary for all abbreviations and acronyms.
2. Units are consistent with official manuals, documents, reports, and instructions used by or issued to the crew.
3. All times are EDT (Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) minus four hours) unless otherwise stated.

1.2 Injuries to Persons

1.2.1 Samaritan Air Learjet 35A C-FHLO

1.2.2 Jetall Convair 340/580 C-GJTU

1.3 Damage to Aircraft

There was no damage to the aircraft.

1.4 Other Damage

There was no other damage.

1.5 Personnel Information

1.5.1 Samaritan Air Learjet 35A C-FHLO

The pilot-in-command was at the controls and seated in the left seat at the time of the occurrence. The flight crew was certified and qualified for the flight in accordance with existing regulations.

1.5.2 Jetall Convair 340/580 C-GJTU

The pilot-in-command was at the controls and seated in the left seat at the time of the occurrence. The flight crew was certified and qualified for the flight in accordance with existing regulations.

1.5.3 Air Traffic Controller - South Departure

Controller Position - Terminal Control
Age - 50
Licence - IFR
Medical Expiry Date - 1 Jun 95
Experience

• as a Controller - 32 years
• as an IFR Controller - 23 years
• in Present Unit - 23 years

1.5.4 Air Traffic Controller - Hamilton Sector

Controller Position - South Specialty
Age - 46
Licence - IFR
Medical Expiry Date - 1 May 95
Experience

• as a Controller - 25 years
• as an IFR Controller- 9 years
• in Present Unit - 9 years

Hours on Duty Prior to Occurrence - 4
Hours off Duty Prior to Work Period - 16

1.6 Aircraft Information

1.6.1 Samaritan Air Learjet 35A C-FHLO

Manufacturer - Learjet
Type and Model - 35A
Year of Manufacture - 1978
Serial Number - 179
Certificate of Airworthiness (Flight Permit) - Valid
Total Airframe Time - Unknown
Engine Type (number of) AiResearch TFE 731-2 (2)
Propeller/Rotor Type (number of) - Not Applicable
Maximum Allowable Take-off Weight 18,000 pounds
Recommended Fuel Type(s) - Jet A
Fuel Type Used - Jet A

The aircraft was certified, equipped, and maintained in accordance with existing regulations and approved procedures.

1.6.2 Jetall Convair 340/580 C-GJTU

Manufacturer - Convair
Type and Model - 340/580
Year of Manufacture - 1953
Serial Number - 121
Certificate of Airworthiness (Flight Permit) - Valid
Total Airframe Time - Unknown
Engine Type (number of) Allison 501-D13 - (2)
Propeller/Rotor Type Hamilton STD A6441FN- (number of) 606A - (2)
Maximum Allowable Take-off Weight - 58,155 pounds
Recommended Fuel Type(s) - Jet A
Fuel Type Used - Jet A

The aircraft was certified, equipped, and maintained in accordance with existing regulations and approved procedures.

1.7 Meteorological Information

The LBPIA Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS) recorded the weather to be as follows: cloud measured ceiling 4,500 feet broken, 8,000 feet overcast, visibility six miles in light rain showers and haze, temperature 25 ° C, dew point 17 ° C, wind 180 ° at four knots.

1.8 Communications - Sequence of Events

CODE: HM - Hamilton Sector

SD - South Departure

TIME (Z)EVENT

14:34:10Firefly 712 is radar identified out of Hamilton and cleared by HM to maintain 6,000 feet with a left turn direct to Toronto.

14:36:49Firefly 712 is re-cleared to maintain 5,000 feet by HM.

14:37:15Firefly 712 is vectored with a left turn to a heading of three five zero ° by HM.

14:37:18 Halo 404 is level and maintaining 5,000 feet. Halo 404 is now vectored to the right to a heading of two four zero ° by SD.

14:37:20 Firefly 712 is vectored with a further left turn to heading of two seven zero ° by HM.

14:37:23 SD questions HM to see if Firefly is climbing.

14:37:30 HM informs SD that Firefly was stopped at 5,000 feet.

14:37:32 SD advises HM that Halo 404 was cleared only to 5,000 feet.

14:37:34 HM advises SD to turn Halo 404.

14:37:36SD informs HM that Halo was turned to the right.

14:37:38 HM informs SD that Firefly was turning to the left.

14:37:40 SD informs HM that Halo is turning to the right.

14:37:40 Firefly 712 is instructed to descend to 4,000 feet by HM and is advised that the Learjet traffic (HLO404) is at his twelve o'clock at five miles distance. HM vectors Firefly 712 to turn to the right to heading zero nine zero °.

14:37:50HM advises SD that he has vectored Firefly 712 to the right and that he is staying at 5,000 feet.

14:37:54 Halo 404 is cleared to maintain 6,000 feet and instructed to leave

5,000 feet.

14:37:57 HM informs SD that he is descending Firefly to

4,000 feet.

14:38:01 HM re-instructs Firefly to maintain 4,000 feet.

14:38:03 Firefly 712 acknowledges the descent clearance to 4,000 feet.

14:38:09 HM advises Firefly 712 that the Learjet traffic (HLO404) is off his right side and

500 feet above.

1.9 South Departure Sector Control

A total of nine operating positions are available in the Terminal Specialty: visual flight rules (VFR) advisory; Arrival 1; Arrival 2; Terminal Data; Coordinator; North Departure; South Departure; Satellite Radar; and Satellite Data. At the time of the occurrence, the North and South Departure positions were combined.

The Toronto Terminal Specialty is responsible for that airspace within a 26 nm radius of the Toronto very high frequency omni-directional range (VOR), from the ground up to and including flight level 230 (FL230). The departure airspace in the area of the occurrence is capped at 7,000 feet asl. Procedures at the Toronto Area Control Centre (ACC) stipulate that Terminal will clear all aircraft landing at Hamilton direct to the Bravo non-directional beacon (NDB) at an altitude determined by the active runway at LBPIA. When LBPIA arrivals are on runways 24L/R, 15 or 33 (as was the case on the day of the occurrence), Hamilton arrivals will be at 6,000 feet asl. It further states that, for Hamilton departures eastbound, the Hamilton controller shall clear this traffic to 5,000 feet asl and hand-off to South Departure.

1.10 Hamilton Sector Control

The South Specialty comprises two sectors: Grimsby sector and Hamilton sector. Training was being conducted at the Hamilton sector at the time of the occurrence. The South Specialty supervisor was monitoring the trainee controller, and, as the occurrence was unfolding, the supervisor unplugged the trainee's communication set and took over the sector's communication and traffic control.

Procedures in the Hamilton Sector Manual stipulate that Terminal will clear all aircraft landing at Hamilton direct to the Bravo NDB at an altitude determined by the active runway at LBPIA. When LBPIA arrivals are on runways 24L/R, 15 or 33, Hamilton arrivals will be at 6,000 feet asl. It further states that aircraft departing Hamilton shall be on course cleared to 5,000 feet asl and then handed off to South Departure. Specific routings are given for aircraft departing eastbound; however, the manual does not stipulate a procedure for aircraft departing Hamilton and landing at LBPIA.

1.11 Additional Information

There had been coordination between Hamilton sector and Terminal Data for the Convair to maintain 6,000 feet asl for landing at LBPIA.

There was no coordination or communication between Terminal and Hamilton sectors regarding the re-instruction for the Convair to maintain 5,000 feet.

The Automated Departure Display System (ADDS) showed the LBPIA departure (Learjet) with a pilot-requested altitude of 5,000 feet asl for the flight from LBPIA to Hamilton; the altitude filed by the crew was 5,000 feet. When operating in accordance with Air Navigation Order (ANO) Series V, No. 2, and IFR, as HLO404 was, the altitude that should have been filed was an "even thousands" altitude (4,000, 6,000, etc.).

2.1 Terminal Control

The Learjet flight crew filed a flight plan altitude of 5,000 feet asl for their flight from LBPIA to Hamilton, and their requested altitude of 5,000 feet asl was displayed on the ADDS equipment. When coordination between Hamilton sector and the Terminal Data position occurred for the Convair, 6,000 feet asl was given with respect to the Learjet, which was contrary to procedure. The Terminal Radar controller cleared the Learjet to 5,000 feet because the ADDS indicated that the Learjet flight crew had only requested 5,000 feet and because he was aware that 6,000 feet had been coordinated for the Convair to proceed to LBPIA.

2.2 Hamilton Control

The Hamilton sector controller re-instructed the Convair to maintain 5,000 feet asl when he observed the Learjet depart LBPIA. He anticipated that the Learjet was going to enter his area of responsibility at 6,000 feet asl, which is the established procedure between Terminal and Hamilton sectors and is in accordance with the ANOs. He did not observe on the ADDS that the Learjet flight crew had only filed for 5,000 feet asl on their flight plan.

2.3 Coordination

A lack of coordination existed when Hamilton Sector did not communicate to Terminal that the Convair flight crew had been re-instructed to maintain 5,000 feet instead of 6,000 feet as had been previously coordinated.

1. The Learjet flight crew filed a wrong-way altitude of 5,000 feet asl on their flight plan.
2. Contrary to procedure, the Terminal Data controller coordinated 6,000 feet asl with the Hamilton sector controller for the Convair.
3. Contrary to procedure, the South Departure controller cleared the Learjet to 5,000 feet asl.
4. The Hamilton sector controller did not observe the Toronto departure (Learjet) on the ADDS.
5. The Hamilton sector controller did not coordinate or communicate to the Terminal controller that the Convair had been re-instructed to maintain 5,000 feet.
6. The Hamilton sector manual did not stipulate the procedure for aircraft departing Hamilton and landing at LBPIA.

3.1 Causes

An air proximity event occurred because the Terminal controllers did not follow procedures as prescribed in the Terminal sector manual, and there was a lack of coordination between the Terminal and Hamilton sector controllers.

The Board has no aviation safety recommendations to issue at this time.

This report concludes the Transportation Safety Board's investigation into this occurrence. Consequently, the Board, consisting of Chairperson John W. Stants, and members Zita Brunet and Hugh MacNeil, authorized the release of this report on 19 May 1995.

Appendix A - Flight Path Depiction

Image

Appendix B - Glossary

ACC

Area Control Centre

ADDS

Automated Departure Display System

ANO

Air Navigation Order

asl

above sea level

ATIS

Automatic Terminal Information Service

ATPL

Airline Transport Pilot Licence

EDT

eastern daylight saving time

FL

flight level

HLO404

Samaritan Air flight Halo 404 (Learjet)

HM

Hamilton Sector

IFR

instrument flight rules

JTL712

Jetall flight Firefly 712 (Convair)

LBPIA

Lester B. Pearson International Airport

NDB

non - directional beacon

nm

nautical miles

SD

South Departure

TSB

Transportation Safety Board of Canada

UTC

Coordinated Universal Time

VFR

visual flight rules

VOR

very high frequency omni - directional range