Crash prevention procedures brought into question following near miss over Lake Michigan - Brief Article

Airline Industry Information, Jan 24, 2000

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2000 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

Concerns about crash-prevention procedures at US airports have been raised after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) revealed that two aircraft were both given commands to ascend in order to avoid each other, resulting in a near collision over Lake Michigan on 1 November 1999.

The United Airlines aircraft and Delta Air Lines aircraft were carrying a combined total of more than 200 people and apparently came within 15 seconds of colliding, with the closest distance between the aircraft estimated at about 30m vertically and 3km horizontally.

Federal law requires a minimum separation of 300m vertical and 8km horizontal.

The United Airlines pilot was apparently instructed to climb by an automated Traffic Collision Avoidance Systems onboard the aircraft while he was descending at Chicago`s O`Hare International Airport, while the Delta Air Lines pilot received his instructions from an air traffic controller as he was ascending from a takeoff from Mitchell Field in Milwaukee.

The respective instructions to the pilots created a situation where the aircraft were `trying to out climb each other` according to an air traffic controller speaking with the Chicago Tribune.

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