Commercial Fixed Wing
Communication Breakdown; Distraction; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Other / Unknown
Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Airspace Structure; Procedure; Environment - Non Weather Related
As we lined up to depart Runway 12C we were preceded by three aerobatic aircraft. All three requested a turn to 090 on departure. As the third went airborne we were immediately cleared for takeoff. Both the Captain and I thought this was a dangerous idea to follow the same departure path as the aerobatic planes and requested Tower work out a turn to the right. They did so and we went 10 degrees right of the runway on our climb all the way past 10;000 FT. You could see the aircraft follow our climb to our left. Had we taken off the same departure would have been granted at minimal spacing and into the aerobatic box just off the field. Move aerobatic planes and their area far away from where scheduled airlines fly. I cannot understand why they are allowed to keep their aerobatic box directly on our departure path as well as on our HUUTY arrival. After the TYLIK Intersection we are forced into their aerobatic box because both they and the FAA refuse to move it farther south.
An air carrier that departed IWA following three aerobatic aircraft had to request a departure vector in order to maintain a comfortable separation from the aircraft maneuvering in the departure corridor.