Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 20.8
Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert
Airspace Structure; Procedure
Safety Incident-I relieved In-flight Position and continued working In-flight 1 position for approx 4.5 hours till the end of my shift. Working the radio position on In-flight 1; I received a call from Aircraft X requesting a Special VFR Clearance into the Yakutat (YAK) service area he was 12 West inbound. I obtained the surface area from Anchorage Center and issued the clearance. A call was made at YAK on 123.6 'Any one on approach?' by an aircraft. I recognized the voice of the pilot and transmitted the following to the pilot. Aircraft Y- SVFR inbound on approach to YAK; Monitor the YAK ASOS and advise intensions. Aircraft Y reply 'RQ SVFR Clearance out of YAK to the EAST'.  Aircraft X heard Aircraft Y's request for SVFR. Aircraft X transmitted to FSS that he agreed to visual separation from Aircraft Y.  I issued the SVFR Clearance to Aircraft Y out of YAK CESA (East) as requested.Reviewing the tape recording with a supervisor; I was informed that Aircraft Y indicated he agreed to Special VFR Clearance. I took this to mean he agreed to Visual Separation with Aircraft X. I informed both aircraft of each type of aircraft required in visual separation during SVFR Clearances. Aircraft Y reported clear of YAK service area to the East. Aircraft X reported on the ground YAK 5-7 minutes later from the West.  My Supervisor tells me this could be a deviation.  This does not change the fact that I should have confirmed with Aircraft Y that his reply was to maintain visual separation from Aircraft X as well.I should have used standard phraseology and re-confirmed with Aircraft Y that he had agreed to Visual Separation from Aircraft X.
FSS controller approved SVFR operations for an inbound and departure simultaneously. The Controller thought he heard one of the aircraft agree to 'Maintain Visual Separation'. During a review of a tape recording of this period it was determined that the aircraft did not volunteer to maintain visual separation. Simultaneous SVFR operations as this require one of the aircraft to maintain visual separation. The Controller misunderstood one of the aircrafts' transmissions.