SR22
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 60; Flight Crew Total 1500; Flight Crew Type 1000
Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Airborne Conflict
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors; Procedure
Approximately 15 NM east of the Rockford TRSA (RFD) VFR at 2;200 FT MSL I contacted RFD Approach requesting to transition the airspace east to west and received a discrete transponder code and altimeter setting. A moment later the Controller reported me in RADAR contact and approved the transition. Approximately 2 NM east of the airport; Approach reported that a 737 was departing RFD to the south. I replied that I would be looking. Moments later I saw an airplane rolling for departure on Runway 7 and asked if that was the 737. The Controller replied that it was. I asked if he was left or right traffic for his south departure. The Controller replied that he would be turning right to the south. I replied that I would 'try to miss him' and kept an eye on him. I had the airplane clearly in sight but thought this was likely to cause a traffic conflict. At this time I was just southeast of the airport within 1 NM of the departure end of the runway. The 737 took off and made an immediate climbing right turn toward me. With him at my 2 o'clock position closing right to left; climbing rapidly and approximately 200 FT below me I cut power and made a steep right diving turn to avoid him and his wake. I called that I was 'making a steep right turn and diving to miss that traffic' to which the Controller replied 'roger.' It appeared the 737 also made an evasive maneuver and steepened his bank and pitch. As our altitudes converged I expect he was within 2;000 FT of me. I descended to approximately 1;800 FT MSL; leveled off and began a left turn back to the south to keep him in sight. I called Approach and said 'that was really close' to which he replied 'roger.' A few seconds later the 737 checked in on our frequency with his current and assigned altitudes and reported that he 'had a traffic resolution advisory on take off' to which the Controller replied only 'roger.' The Controller then handed off the 737 to Chicago Center. There was no further communication between us and several minutes later as I exited the TRSA the Controller said to squawk VFR. As I understand the regulations neither of us did anything wrong here; technically; but I think the controllers were dangerously foolish to issue the 737's take off clearance considering the conflict it would present. RFD is Class D and the field was VFR so no separation services are provided; but it is a TRSA and though that does not change separation requirements I was in RADAR contact and had not changed course; speed or altitude as I approached the airport. It should have been abundantly clear that clearing the 737 for a right turn off Runway 7 would put us on a collision course. The Controller could have done any one of a number of things to avoid the traffic conflict. He could have put the 737 behind me by delaying his take off clearance for 30 seconds or assigning him runway heading to extend his upwind. He could have given him a left departure (Runway 7 is left traffic) to put him well above me before he turned south. He also could have switched me to Tower given my proximity so all parties were talking on the same frequency. When the 737 checked in on our frequency he reported receiving a resolution advisory on take off. That is a big deal and means his TCAS system was yelling instructions for the pilot to avoid our collision. It must have been alarming during that most critical phase of their flight. For my part; I recognized when the Controller said the 737 would be turning south that it would create a conflict; and I should have spoken up and asked how he would like me to avoid the traffic. But any result of that would have been for the Controller to change his instructions to the 737; since short of telling me to dive or turn around there was not much I could do proactively to avoid the conflict. In summary; I think the controllers at RFD made a dangerous mistake when they cleared the 737 for a right departure given my position. Had I made no change in course or altitude and the 737 made the same correction he did; we might have collided or certainly would have had a near miss; and I would have tangled with his wake and possibly crashed. Had I held course the 737 might have been forced to make a much more dramatic maneuver than he did; putting himself in an unusual attitude or possibly over-stressing his airframe. There is no way to know; but the situation was dangerous. Had the controllers inconvenienced the 737's flight just slightly this conflict would not have occurred; and I am sure the pilots of the 737 would prefer that delay in retrospect as well. Or the controllers could have told me much sooner about the 737's departure and vectored me north of the airport.
VFR traffic overflying RFD with ATC experienced a conflict event with Air Carrier traffic departing; both aircraft taking evasive actions and the reporter questioning ATC's judgement.