GENERAL INFORMATION

NARRATIVE

[O] On June 23, 1998, about 1601 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-31 Navajo, N711LD, and Grayhawk 06, a Navy Grumman E-2, were involved in an air traffic control (ATC) operational error, which occurred about 20 miles southwest of Bradford, Pennsylvania. Both airplanes were operating on instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plans under control of the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Cleveland Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) Bradford sector. Grayhawk 06 was northbound, en route from Norfolk, Virginia, to Wellsville, New York, and N711LD was westbound, en route from Elmira, New York, to Akron, Ohio. The two airplanes passed within 2 miles horizontally and 100 feet vertically. [Recommendations] A-00-25. Direct air traffic control facilities using Enhanced Traffic Management System monitor alert software to establish procedures to ensure compliance with the dynamic Monitor Alert Parameter adjustment requirements contained in Federal Aviation Administration Order 7210.3, "Facility Operation and Administration." [Responses] FAA LTR DTD: 6/9/00 FAA Order 7210.3, Facility Operation and Administration, paragraph 17-7-2c, gives specific direction for the adjustment of the monitor alert parameters. It is the facility manager's responsibility to ensure compliance with this procedure. The FAA's Director, Air Traffic Service, sent a memorandum to regional air traffic division managers on May 17, 2000, reminding them of the facility responsibility to ensure compliance with this procedure. I have enclosed a copy of the memorandum for the Board's information. I believe that the FAA has addressed the full intent of this safety recommendation, and I consider the FAA's action to be completed. NTSB LTR DTD: 10/24/00 The FAA states that FAA Order 7210.3, "Facility Operation and Administration," paragraph 17-7-2c, gives specific direction for adjusting Monitor Alert Parameters (MAP). The FAA further states that it is the facility manager's responsibility to ensure compliance with this procedure. The FAA's Director, Air Traffic Service, sent a memorandum to regional air traffic division managers on May 17, 2000, reminding them of their responsibility to ensure compliance with this procedure. The Safety Board notes that the FAA merely reminded facility management about the existing requirement that MAPs be adjusted according to conditions specified in FAA Order 7210.3. The existence of this requirement did not previously achieve consistent facility compliance, and the Board is concerned that simply reminding the FAA facility management about the requirement without taking additional action may not result in consistent facility compliance. Therefore, the Board requests that FAA evaluators include compliance with this procedure as a special emphasis item for a selection of air route traffic control centers (ARTCC) to ensure that procedures in FAA Order 7210.3 are being followed as intended. The Board further requests that the FAA evaluators then report their findings to the Board. Pending issuance of the FAA's findings on compliance with FAA Order 7210.3, Safety Recommendation A-00-25 is classified "Open Acceptable Response." FAA LTR DTD: 3/2/01 The memorandum sent by the FAA's Director, Air Traffic Service, to regional air traffic division managers on May 17, 2000, reminding them of the facility responsibility to ensure compliance with this procedure met the intent of this recommendation. This action heightened awareness of the dynamic Monitor Alert Parameter adjustment requirements contained in FAA Order 7210.3, Facility Operation and Administration. Additionally, the air traffic division managers have advised that the mandatory review of the dynamic adjustment requirements have been completed at the affected facilities. Throughout last summer's severe weather season, the dynamic evaluation of the air traffic system to manage the strategically planned reroutes safely was a cornerstone of the agency's Spring/Summer 2000 Plan. This plan was developed to improve the flow of air traffic during severe weather. I believe that the FAA has addressed the full intent of this safety recommendation, and I consider the FAA's action to be completed. NTSB LTR DTD: 7/25/01 On May 17, 2000, the FAA's Director, Air Traffic Service, sent a memorandum to regional air traffic division managers reminding them of their facility's responsibility to ensure compliance with the dynamic MAP adjustment requirements contained in FAA Order 7210.3. The FAA states that this memorandum meets the intent of Safety Recommendation A-00-25. The air traffic division managers have indicated that the mandatory review of the dynamic MAP adjustment requirements have been completed at the affected facilities. In its October 24, 2000, letter concerning this recommendation, the Safety Board stated the following: The Safety Board notes that the FAA merely reminded facility management about the existing requirement that MAPs be adjusted according to conditions specified in FAA Order 7210.3. The existence of this requirement did not previously achieve consistent facility compliance, and the Board is concerned that simply reminding the FAA facility management about the requirement without taking additional action may not result in consistent facility compliance. Therefore, the Board requests that FAA evaluators include compliance with this procedure as a special emphasis item for a selection of ARTCCs to ensure that procedures in FAA Order 7210.3 are being followed as intended. The Board further requests that the FAA evaluators then report their findings to the Board. The Board continues to believe that the FAA should include compliance with the procedure as a special emphasis item for a selection of ARTCC to ensure that procedures in FAA Order 7210.3 are being followed as intended. However, the May 17, 2000, memorandum from the Director, Air Traffic Service, meets the intent of Safety Recommendation A-00-25, which is now classified "Closed Acceptable Action." 3

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