Fighting Falcon F16
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Situational Awareness; Human-Machine Interface; Confusion
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors
Four F16s climbing southbound; another controller thought they climbed the aircraft to FL280; but climbed them to same altitude as traffic. The F16s showed reported at FL280. I reached out to them for an initial check in and they stated they were level at FL270. I responded you mean FL280 and they responded no; level at FL270. Apparently the other controller thought he/she climbed the aircraft to FL280 and actually climbed them to the altitude of the traffic. From my own experience; sometimes you physically look at the traffic's Mode C you mean to miss and inadvertently say the altitude of the traffic not the altitude you mean to separate the traffic.
A flight of 4 F16s took off southbound. Their Mode C never worked; so I needed to constantly get an altitude verification. The F16s were level at FL260 which is the top of my airspace. I pointed out the F16s to the next sector climbing to FL280 reference a Citation Jet and it was approved. I came off the line and climbed the F16s to FL270 and told him to report. I meant to say FL280. The F16s reported level at FL260 then said FL270; I thought he said FL280. I reported him level at FL280. I proceeded to switch him to the next sector. I was unaware he was at FL270 because his Mode C never worked while in my airspace. It wasn't until 5-7 minutes after that the next sector told me he was still at FL270. It was mostly an error on my part for saying the altitude I meant to climb above. The only thing that would have helped me prevent this incident is if the aircraft Mode C was working. Constantly having to check his altitude was taking some of my focus away.
Enroute Controller described a loss of separation event when assigning an altitude in conflict with another aircraft; the reports indicating the controller was thinking one altitude but in fact assigned another; perhaps a Mode C indication.