Learjet 60
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Aircraft; ATC Equipment / Nav Facility / Buildings; Procedure
Took briefing for sector. Solar flares were a problem; no aircraft could be contacted on HF; only limited SATCOM with some aircraft and CPDLC communications possible. The LJ60 progress report put him in confliction with the A330 prior to me taking the sector. Instead of the required 15 minutes on cross aircraft; I had approximately 9 minutes. The LJ60's position report was plausible but not verifiable due to frequency outage. Initially descent for the LJ60 was not possible due to conflicting traffic. Multiple attempts were made to see if the A330 was able higher; and to change his altitude. All attempts resulted in failure; and message was received for loss of separation which was forwarded to Supervisor Queue. Finally communications via a relay were established with the LJ60 and a clearance to FL390 was issued after separation was lost as per his newest progress received via relay. Event happened due to the fact that solar flares took away communication with almost all aircraft. Furthermore; this event was reported to management; twice as well as the messages going to the supervisor. When I reported for my next shift I asked the supervisor on duty in the area if a loss of separation was on file; it was not in the system. Recommendation; more aircraft need SATCOMS for these type events and more equipage of CPDLC communications. Additionally it would be nice if when there is a chance of solar flares; for us to be briefed and traffic initiatives put into place.
ZNY Controller described a probable loss of separation event when solar flares limited HF communications and aircraft equipment limitations made it impossible to relay control instructions to oceanic traffic.