Small Aircraft
Distraction; Situational Awareness; Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Training / Qualification
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance
Human Factors; Procedure
During training on the P sector an IFR Aircraft X departed PIE and was climbing to 3000 feet. During Aircraft X's climb Aircraft Y called off a satellite airport just NW of PIE looking for an IFR clearance. Aircraft Y was instructed to maintain VFR below 3000 feet and squawk his code. Aircraft X was instructed to turn 20 degrees to the right for traffic (observing Aircraft Y tag up on code). I issued an IFR clearance to Aircraft Y; then turned Aircraft X further East. Do not issue the IFR clearance until prescribed separation is established.
I was giving a skill check to my developmental with his OJTI plugged in. I was sitting next to developmental plugged in a hand off position and monitoring the frequency and position. I did not have override capability. Aircraft X had did a couple practice approaches at PIE and had departed PIE in a north bound heading and recleared to TPA climbing to 3;000. I believe when Aircraft X was out of about 2;000 a VFR aircraft; Aircraft Y was calling looking for his IFR clearance off of CLW. The developmental gave the VFR his beacon code and to maintain VFR at or below 3;000. He then issued traffic to Aircraft X who did not see Aircraft Y. The developmental then turned Aircraft X to a 020 heading. The aircraft were probably about 2 miles apart when Aircraft Y tagged up with an altitude of 1;600 in a N-NE heading. The developmental told Aircraft Y radar contact and then went on to issue Aircraft Y his IFR clearance climbing to 4;000. The second the OJTI and I realize he is going to issue the clearance we are telling him 'NO'; STOP' but he kept on going. When he unkeyed Aircraft Y reads back his clearance. The whole time the clearance is being issued and read back the targets are on converging courses and losing altitude separation. The OJTI is telling the developmental to turn Aircraft X to 090 but when the developmental can finally say something he only tells him turn right heading 040. The OJTI tells him again 090 and developmental tell Aircraft X to turn right heading 090. The OJTI is also telling developmental to stop Aircraft Y altitude and I'm not sure if he got that transmission in. The whole time I can't believe what is happening and looking at the OJTI to do something to separate these two aircraft. After the developmental tells Aircraft X to turn right heading 090 it looks like he is in no hurry so after prompting from the OJTI he tells the pilot he really needs him to turn to 090. Aircraft X finally turned and separation increased at that point. I must say this developmental was assigned to me about a week and half ago on an extension from the training review board. His progress is not satisfactory and this was a required weekly skill check. I could not believe with his number of hours of training he has received that he would give Aircraft Y his clearance when they were not separated. I think his OJTI was shocked and momentarily forgot he had override capability and thats why he was giving the developmental verbal input. I think if the OJTI would have keyed over the developmental and taken command of the position the error would not have been as bad and maybe he could have stopped the clearance before it was issued. Myself; I should have been more verbal in my instructions to stop the clearance and then be more verbal and demand the OJTI take the position. I could also have reached around the developmental and unplugged him. Bottom line; I should have been more verbal and ordered the OJTI to take over the position and the OJTI on his own should have keyed over the developmental and taken control of his position.1. Use this event to remind OJTI's of the importance of not letting things go so far and remind them of their override capability.2. Lesson learned for me is believe what you are seeing and take control of the situation even if it means ordering someone to do something or unplug someone so they can't do more damage. I also have to understand that even though you have a 20 year VET as an OJTI they have lapse in judgment and sometimes need guidance.3. Provide skill enhancement training to my developmental.4. Have another discussion with OJTI about his responsibilities when training and talk about the situation again and how we both could have improved our performance.
TPA TRACON Controller describes a loss of separation with two aircraft. Controller identifies second aircraft and makes the aircraft IFR while in close proximity of another IFR.