Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 13.0
Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Air Traffic Control Separated Traffic
Human Factors; Procedure; Aircraft
A military fighter jet at 39000 feet; had an equipment suffix of /W; which made it RVSM capable. A different military fighter jet 60-70 miles behind the first one; checked on frequency. It was showing NON-RVSM capable at 41000 feet. Instinct caused us to question the first one. The pilot stated they were; in fact; NON-RVSM capable. We notified the supervisor and changed the aircraft's equipment suffix to /I. We were notified that separation had been lost with an aircraft at 38000 feet and an aircraft at 40000 feet.
An F/A18 filed a flight plan with an equipment suffix indicating they were RVSM capable which permits ATC to use 1;000 feet vertical separation above 29;000 feet instead of 2;000 feet. The Controller asked the pilot to verify its equipment suffix type. The pilot responded with slant India which is not RVSM capable. The aircraft had passed two other aircraft with 1;000 feet of vertical separation prior to the Controller finding out the wrong suffix was filed.