Skylane 182/RG Turbo Skylane/RG
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 90; Flight Crew Total 915; Flight Crew Type 200
Situational Awareness; Communication Breakdown
Conflict Airborne Conflict
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Airspace Structure; Procedure; Human Factors
I was flying a jump aircraft carrying skydivers for my company. After I dropped off my load over the drop zone at the airport and was in my descent back down to the airport; I had a near miss with a Boeing 737. He was off my left; headed towards me; and I immediately banked to the right to avoid him. We both saw each other and the B737 pilot called out the traffic to approach and said that it gave him an RA. Less than a minute later he got another RA from another one of our company aircraft. They both saw each other too at the last second. Better separation should have been provided by ATC. But at the end of the day everyone saw and avoided each other albeit the close call.
A Boeing 737 reported two Resolution Alerts (RA) on two 'high-wing aircraft'; each RA was reported within 15 seconds of each other. My operation consists of climbing to 8;000 feet MSL and descending back to the airport for continuous skydiving operation with multiple 'jump aircraft'. My climbs; 'jump runs'; and descents are consistent throughout the day as long as the surface and aloft winds are consistent for a safe free fall and drift/glide for the parachutists. My jump run was 320 degree (magnetic course) and first parachutists out by 1 NM from the drop zone. After I've called my one minute warning with Approach and my parachutist deplaned; I started my descent at about 2;000 feet per minute to the north. Approach was very busy and I could not announce that my parachutist deplaned. Moments later; the B737 reported a 'high-wing' aircraft on their port side that caused a RA. A few seconds later; the B737 reported a second RA; 'high-wing aircraft'; above them. When the B737 reported the first RA; I was trying to look for them believing it was for me; it was for company traffic. I heard a buzzing noise over the frequency; similar to a 'blocked' transmission and could not make out the transmission. I looked over to my 4 o'clock and I saw the B737; about 1 NM; same altitude on an eastbound course. At that time; the B737 report their second RA. After the report; approach said to me that he told me to stop my descent. I responded back that I did not receive the transmission. When I spotted the B737; there was no further action to be taken on my part. The traffic was not a factor anymore as we were heading on different direction and different altitudes. Approach on this specific frequency is a very busy frequency especially on weekends and during VMC. This sector covers Class C airspace; north and south practice area of the Class C; and sometimes a single controller handles two separate frequencies. ZZZ is known to have frequent skydiving operation throughout the week and it's very congested with multiple specialty flying operations; gliders; banner towing; student pilot training; practice instrument approaches and skydiving. A parachute symbol is depicted on the Sectional and Terminal Area Chart and as well there is a FDC NOTAM. I have witnessed in the past; air carriers and other jet traffic over flying and/or in the vicinity of ZZZ during skydiving operations. With the skydiving operation; flight pattern is similar and we try to keep it consistent so it's predictable for planning purposes for the controllers. We climb to the south and descent to the north of ZZZ; trying to keep our pattern away from Class C. For our next flights; its lesson learned that we need to keep an extra vigilance and situational awareness to maintain a safe flight.
Three skydive pilots flying separate C182s reported two of them had a conflict with a B737 while descending.