Description

On 24 May 2012, a Fokker 100 (HB-JVH) being operated by Helvetic Airways on a passenger charter flight (5311) from Kos, Greece to Bern and descending visually downwind right hand for runway 32 at destination came very close in day Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC) to an EC145 helicopter being operated by Swiss Air Ambulance which was on a Visual Flight Rules (VFR) ferry flight from Lausanne to Zurich and transiting Bern at 4500 feet from southwest to northeast. Both flights were known to ATC and had been given traffic information.

Investigation

An Investigation was carried out by the Swiss AIB (SAIB). No notification of the event reached the SAIB until 5 days after it had occurred. ATC radar and R/T recordings were used to assist the Investigation. It was noted that the conflict had occurred in the Bern CTR which was Class 'D' airspace. ATS was provided by APP and TWR positions both equipped with a radar display with a four second update. It was the TWR position that was working the two aircraft at the time of the conflict and which had cleared the EC145 to transit VFR at 4500 feet Altimeter Pressure Settings on the requested route from the 'FRI' VHF Omnidirectional Radio Range (VOR) to the 'WIL' VOR, one of the two designated VFR transit routes promulgated - the "Southern Transit Route" - see the chart below: