ATC Blamed Again!

[cptbrw]

Apparently, a Washington TRACON controller is being blamed for an incident that resulted in a loss of separation incident between a C-17 cargo jet and an aircraft carrying first lady Michelle Obama near Andrews AFB.

http://nycaviation.com/2011/04/plane-carrying-michelle-obama-in-close-call-with-cargo-jet-at-andrews-air-force-base/

[StrongDreams]

Who else's fault would it be?

[rpd]

Perhaps the pilot of Executive1 foxtrot.  It may have been a visual approach, and they were cleared to follow the C-17. 

[StrongDreams]

Well, not an expert, but from what I read, TRACON was supposed to maintain 5 miles of separation due to wake turbulence, handed them off to tower stating they were 4 miles apart, when they were actually 3 miles apart at handoff.  Even if they were on a visual approach, who is responsible that 5 mile separation, the pilot or control?

Article here.

[eqfan592]

If Executive 1 Foxtrot reported the C-17 in sight, then the TRACON controller would have cleared them for the visual approach with the instructions to follow the C-17. At this point, the pilot is then providing their own separation. If the controller mentioned that they were at 4 miles separation on the hand-off in this situation, it was likely as a heads-up to the tower controllers.

If, however, the pilot never reported the C-17 in sight, then it's a different story.

[atcman23]

The pilot could report the C-17 in sight but the controller then needs to instruct them to "maintain visual separation" with the traffic and issue a cautionary wake turbulence advisory.  At that point, it is on the pilot to provide the separation and the pilot is allowed to get closer than the 5 miles needed.  If this were a regular ILS approach or the pilot did not report the C-17 in sight, then the controller must ensure that 5 miles of separation is maintained at all times.

[glencar]

Well, at least she got to appear on the View show and expound on whatever scheme she's pushing...

[eqfan592]

The pilot could report the C-17 in sight but the controller then needs to instruct them to "maintain visual separation" with the traffic and issue a cautionary wake turbulence advisory.  At that point, it is on the pilot to provide the separation and the pilot is allowed to get closer than the 5 miles needed.  If this were a regular ILS approach or the pilot did not report the C-17 in sight, then the controller must ensure that 5 miles of separation is maintained at all times.

An instruction to "follow" is the same as an instruction to "maintain visual separation" when dealing with visual approaches. But you are 100% correct that if the pilot did not have the traffic in sight or if they were shooting an ILS approach then 5 miles would need to be maintained.

[cptbrw]

And the FAA's solution?  A supervisor will be responsible to monitor the First Lady's flight in the future.

[mikenftsmith]

Well, at least she got to appear on the View show and expound on whatever scheme she's pushing...

I thought this was an aviation topic forum.  I don't think taking care of military members and their families is a "scheme".

[secondeye]

Well, at least she got to appear on the View show and expound on whatever scheme she's pushing...

I thought this was an aviation topic forum.  I don't think taking care of military members and their families is a "scheme".

And he takes the bait.  Let's not turn this into a pin-wearing contest.  I'm sure you both all love your bumper stickers.  I think we can all agree at this point it's a borderline witch-hunt on ATC error news.

[glencar]

Nothing to do with bumpers stickers/politics. I'm the one who works these flights and the disruptions they cause are annoying. I understand the Prez flying around but in this day of satellite feeds and all that, now having a stupe looking over my shoulder because of TV appearance runs is highly annoying.

[cptbrw]

Nice article from NYC Avaition:

http://nycaviation.com/2011/04/how-the-media-blew-the-michelle-obama-close-call-story-a-pilots-take/

[rpd]

I liked that article.

In fairness, I did find out the aircraft were on ILS approaches, so it was not the pilot fault.