GLEX/F2TH, vicinity Ibiza Spain, 2012

GLEX/F2TH, vicinity Ibiza Spain, 2012

Summary

On 21 September 2012, two aircraft came into conflict in Class 'A' airspace whilst under radar control at night and loss of separation was resolved by TCAS RA responses by both aircraft. Investigation found that one of the aircraft had passed a procedurally-documented clearance limit without ATC clearance or intervention and that situational awareness of its crew had been diminished by communications with the conflicting aircraft being conducted in Spanish rather than English. A Safety Recommendation on resolving the persistent problem of such language issues was made, noting that a similar recommendation had been made 11 years earlier.

Description

On 21 September 2012, a Bombardier Global Express (EC-JIL) being operated for private business purposes by Punto-FA on a passenger flight under callsign MGO 758 from Nice to Ibiza and a Dassault Falcon 2000 (CS-DNP) being operated by NetJets Europe on a passenger charter flight from Porto to Ibiza under callsign 559U came into conflict in Class 'A' airspace near Ibiza Airport in night Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC) as both aircraft were positioning to final approach.

Investigation

An Investigation was carried out by the Spanish Civil Aviation Accident and Incident Investigation Commission (CIAIAC).

It was noted that both aircraft crews were experienced on aircraft type and that the pilots of the Spanish-registered aircraft were of Spanish nationality and those of the Portuguese-registered aircraft were of Dutch nationality. These crews had, respectively, Level 5 and Level 6 English Language Proficiency endorsed on their licences.

It was dark at the time of the conflict and the prevailing weather conditions recorded at Ibiza Airport shortly before it occurred included visibility >10km and the only cloud SCT/4500 feet aal.

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