Super King Air 200
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Procedure; Human Factors
A heavy B1 bomber; was flying on [an airway] in my sector. In the middle of the sector; the aircraft descended IFR below RADAR coverage. The last altitude I saw on the B1 was 095. ZZZ Tower called me for a release on a Super King Air 200. I told them that I had a B1 on a route near their airspace; and that I did not have that aircraft on RADAR. The Tower Controller then said to me; 'But he's a Lifeguard; he has to get out.' I then said released. After I got off the landline with ZZZ Tower; I looked again at the track coast for the B1; and it indicated that the aircraft was at 529 knots. I realized that I would not have the required non-RADAR separation with the two aircraft. I called the Tower back to cancel the release; but when they answered the landline; they said that the King Air was already airborne. At that point; the King Air checked onto the frequency; and I gave the aircraft a 260 degree heading to avoid. I feel the event happened for two reasons. First; because the aircraft at ZZZ was a Lifeguard and because the Tower Controller was insistent that they get off the ground; I felt pressured not to delay their flight. The second reason is because of the location of [the airway]. It is a seldom used procedure; and I had not seen or worked [this airway] in at least 5 years. The exit point for [the airway] is in conflict with the departure procedure at ZZZ. I think that this event can be prevented from re-occurring by changing the exit point of [this airway] to a location prior to the current location; and/or changing the altitude of the route to an altitude that would keep the flight within RADAR coverage when the flight is within the vicinity of ZZZ. I also think that the event could be prevented from re-occurring by providing further guidance to ZZZ Tower about [the airway] and the difficulties it presents to the Center Controller when the route is in use. This way; when the Center Controller informs the ZZZ Tower Controller that [the airway] is in use; they will not persist in requesting immediate departures.
Enroute Controller described a conflict event between a military aircraft on an IR route and an IFR Lifeguard flight departure; the reporter suggesting the IR route be adjusted a prevent future occurrences.