Helicopter
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 16
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness; Confusion
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors; Procedure
An air carrier IFR; arriving from the west. Got him past all of his traffic; cleared him for a visual approach to and told him to contact Tower about 8-9 miles northwest. A VFR helicopter; now 5 miles northwest of the field needed to cross over the runways enroute to the hospital. Normal route of flight would have put him over the approach end of the runway at about 1;000-1;200 FT. Called Local Control (LC) and coordinated; LC said that she could take the direct to the hospital. I gave LC control of the air carrier just in case she needed more room or needed to maneuver. LC called when the air carrier was on a 3 mile final; stating that she did not have communications with that aircraft. I switched the air carrier again and this time he took the change. As I watched the situation; suddenly the helicopter took a turn toward the air carrier. This would be a turn AWAY from the hospital and quite an unusual move for the helicopter as they need to get a patient to the hospital. I was later informed that the air carrier was filing some kind of a report; perhaps a near midair. I reviewed the tape and the air carrier had 1 mile lateral separation; VFR separation.
I am a Developmental training on radar; and certified CIC in the Tower. I was combined CIC/Flight Data/Clearance Delivery when this event occurred. Training was being conducted on Approach/Departure Control as well as Local Control. A VFR helicopter was inbound about 7 miles northwest of the airport. The air carrier was inbound from the northwest as well; on a visual approach to Runway 22. The helicopter was landing at a hospital on the east side of the airport and was going to cross the final approach course of the air carrier. The Radar trainee coordinated with Local Control that the air carrier was Local Control's; reference the helicopter. As soon as this happened; we knew that this was going to be a tie between the air carrier landing Runway 22 and the helicopter. Neither aircraft was on the Tower frequency yet. The helicopter came over and landing instructions were given as well as the jet traffic. The air carrier was not on the frequency yet. If the air carrier had been on the frequency sooner; there would have been plenty of time to send him around or widen him out to get the helicopter across the final approach course. Local called downstairs and asked them to switch the air carrier again after calling the traffic to the helicopter. The helicopter reported the traffic in sight; but did not read back the instructions to maintain visual separation. The air carrier checked in on frequency at about 3 mile final; was issued the traffic; at first didn't have it in sight; and then reported it in sight.The Radar Controller should have widened the air carrier out and not cleared him for the visual approach until separation was ensured with the helicopter.
Three controllers and an air carrier pilot describe the confusion after a helicopter is cleared through the final approach corridor but is in conflict with the air carrier who switched frequencies late and did not hear ATC's alert.