Description

On 21 April 2016, a Fokker F50 (OO-VLF) being operated by VLM on a scheduled international passenger flight from Berlin Tegel to Friedrichshafen as VLM22TX and a Piper PA28 (OK-ELL) being privately operated under VFR on an international passenger flight from Brno to Friedrichshafen were involved in a near mid-air collision at 4,000 feet QNH approximately 10 nm north east of their destination in day VMC. Minimum separation after the initiation of lateral avoiding action by the F50 was 0.5 nm laterally and 100 feet vertically. Both aircraft subsequently completed their flights without further event.

Investigation

An Investigation was carried out by the Swiss Transportation Safety Investigation Board (STSB) after notification of the event by the Belgian AAIU and delegation of the investigation responsibility by Germany on the basis that the event occurred in airspace for which the Swiss ANSP Skyguide was, by agreement, responsible for providing ATS. It was noted that the management of the airspace over the region of Friedrichshafen is shared by three ANSPs. The German DFS has delegated ATS over German territory around the Friedrichshafen CTZ to the Swiss ANSP Skyguide but the Austrian ANSP Austro Control provides ATS within the CTZ. The German Federal Air Traffic Controlling Office (BAF) is responsible for “the supervision of these civil ANSPs”.