Medium Large Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 1.7
Distraction; Situational Awareness; Confusion
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Airborne Conflict
Air Traffic Control Separated Traffic; Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Procedure; Human Factors; Airspace Structure; Airport
I was working Radar West at the time of the event and noticed the situation take place. Aircraft X; was on the WLEEE STAR on the downwind for AUS; level at 4000. Aircraft Y; departed EDC initially to the west and then turned back to the east; call Radar East for either flight following or an IFR pick up. Aircraft Y was told to immediately stop his climb at 3500 and passed right underneath Aircraft X. I am unsure whether Aircraft X received and responded to a resolution advisory. If Aircraft Y did not stop their climb; this could have led to a serious incident. Fortunately; nothing serious took place.This event has happened many times before with aircraft that depart EDC and head any direction other than due east. These particular aircraft are departing VFR either looking to pick up their IFR clearance or VFR flight following. The most dangerous instances that create a great deal of risk in the NAS is when they are trying to head westbound while AUS is landing in a south flow. I have seen many aircraft inbound to AUS receive and respond to resolution advisories because these aircraft are climbing through their flight path. EDC is an uncontrolled airport that is very close to the arrival corridor for AUS when AUS is in a south flow. Many pilots that want to fly to the west do not take the recommendation of the airport to fly east or north where there is less of a chance of a conflict and fly west instead; right towards arriving air carriers into AUS. Since the airport is uncontrolled; very little can be done besides making a suggestion to the pilots departing. I highly recommend that a control tower be built for EDC and a Class D airspace be created to mitigate this tremendous risk to the system. Making EDC a controlled airport and setting up procedures for pilots to depart in a specific way will greatly help reduce this risk of possible midair collisions or other serious incidents. I fear that the only way this situation will be resolved is the unfortunate aftermath of an accident. I am hoping this issue can be looked at seriously and quickly; without waiting for a disaster to happen.
AUS TRACON Radar Controller reported unsafe operations between EDC uncontrolled airport VFR departures and arrivals to AUS.