Investigation number
200100959
Occurrence date
State
New South Wales
Report release date
Report status
Final
Investigation type
Occurrence Investigation
Investigation status
Completed
Aviation occurrence type
Loss of separation
Occurrence category
Incident

The crew of the Airbus Industrie A340 responded to a traffic alert and collision avoidance system (TCAS) resolution advisory (RA) and climbed 600 ft above the cleared level of flight level (FL)190. The conflicting traffic was a formation of military McDonnell Douglas Corporation FA-18A Hornet aircraft in transit through a military airspace corridor. Traffic information was passed to the crew of the A340 by the air traffic controller. The Hornet crews were on military control frequencies. At the time of the TCAS alert, the Hornets had climbed to FL180 from FL170 to transit civil airspace via a military airspace corridor 75km north of Sydney, known as the Hunter Corridor. Civil radar data indicated that the Hornets climbed to FL183 and military radar data indicated a climb to FL182. The crews stated that they were positive that they had levelled at FL180, and that they had the A340 in sight. Analysis of the radar data indicated that, at the time of the resolution advisory, the standard vertical separation had reduced to less than 1000ft resulting in an infringement of separation standards.

Aircraft Details
Manufacturer
Airbus
Model
A340
Registration
B-HXI
Sector
Other
Departure point
Hong Kong
Destination
Sydney NSW
Damage
Nil
Aircraft Details
Manufacturer
McDonnell Douglas Corp.
Model
F/A-18A
Registration
UNKNOWN
Sector
Other
Departure point
Williamtown NSW
Destination
Williamtown NSW
Damage
Nil