Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Flight Engineer; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 150; Flight Crew Total 12000; Flight Crew Type 2925
Communication Breakdown; Distraction; Situational Awareness; Workload
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Airborne Conflict
General None Reported / Taken
Airport; Procedure; Airspace Structure; Environment - Non Weather Related
Aerobatic Aircraft performing maneuvers southeast of IWA airport pose a continuous threat to [other aircraft.] This has been a problem for years. My flight took off from IWA on Runway 12R and told to fly runway heading. After being handed off to Phoenix Departure we were told to climb to 12;000 and turn to a heading of 080. We were told of traffic at 12 o'clock maneuvering. We said we were looking. The problem with aerobatic aircraft is that they maneuver so fast that it out performs our TCAS capabilities. All we got was a TA but only because they reversed their vertical profile we did not receive a RA. There will be a Mid Air Collision out of this airport someday. There is no question about it. I have been flying for 25 years and have had more Near Mid Airs at IWA in the last year and one half (8 total) than in my last 25 years of flying. Either move the aerobatic box or move us to a different departure/arrival profile.
The reporter emphasized his belief that the IWA IFR arrival and departure conflicts with GA traffic are going to result in an accident. The IWA east arrivals are via the HUUTY 1 RNAV and typically near CNYON with the airport in sight; an aircraft will be cleared direct TYLIK for a visual. On the arrival aircraft are descending over the Superstition Mountains around 7;000 FT for a visual approach with the intent of rolling out on a 3;000 FT; 5 mile final for Runway 30. This puts the aircraft very near the 30 mile Class B ring over the Rittenhouse AHP where small aircraft are also descending below the 5;000 FT Class B floor. In that area just outside the Class B many aircraft conduct flight training and practice maneuvers. IFR takeoffs from Runway 30 are vectored on a left; climbing downwind which also makes them vulnerable to conflicts below 4;000 and at all altitudes below the Class B floor during the climb.
A pilot reported a TCAS TA alert with an aerobatic aircraft at 7;000 FT after departing IWA Runway 12 and predicts future a collision because of the increased number of such conflicts in this airspace. Aircraft on Runway 30 visual approaches conflict with traffic below 5;000 FT at about 10 miles.