Shortly after a Skywest ERJ 170 swerved to avoid a B-52 near Minot International Airport last July 19, the giant bomber came within a mile of a Piper Cherokee on its way to a flyby of the North Dakota Fairgrounds, according to an NTSB preliminary report on the incident. The loss of separation came to light when a passenger recording of the SkyWest captain’s apology for the abrupt maneuver went viral on social media. The close encounter with the Cherokee, operated by a local flight school, was revealed in the report. The Air Force says the report vindicates its crew, which flew a straight line from the east just south of the airport with clearance from the Minot air traffic controller to its flyby west of the airport.
The SkyWest crew was on final for the airport when they saw the approaching bomber and the pilot made an abrupt right turn to fly behind it. The bomber carried on its heading and the Cherokee turned to the right to stay out of its way. There were numerous radio communications between all three aircraft. The flyby happened and both other aircraft landed safely. The weather was benign at the time of the incident, and the three aircraft were the only ones in the vicinity of the airport.
No one wants to swap paint. “See and avoid” worked. S.A. via radio is a great tool if everyone knows where they are and who’s out there. Still lots of holes in the swiss cheese.
Yes. How it’s supposed to work, if all communicate and have an awareness. Of course glad it did though.
“Loss of separation”????
I think 1 mile is more than 500’
Within 1 mile and 100′ vertical is deemed a “standard formation in the military/ATC context.” The spark here is verical separation, as this is a single B52- 500′ is standard VFR/IFR VERTICAL separation.
Depending on radar identification, control type, resolution cell of the radar, good mode C checks and altitude assignments, LATERALLY the separation may be small, IF the vertical is controlled.
See and avoid of B-52 enhanced by huge acft w/huge shadow dancing across ground augmented with black coal burning exhaust trails…fortunately not overtaking geometry so all could see the BUFF coming.
USAF Ops and ATC first string probably coord’d the event…but ATC first string that coord’d was may have been home drinking beer during the event (a Saturday). LL’d many years ago in a 4 ship A-6/EA-6B diamond at a relatively leisurely 325 KIAS over multiple requested Puget Sound flybys (as also extensively pre-coord’d w/ATC first string) one July 4th was that not only was first string home drinking beer, but low totem pole ATC on duty didn’t have the plan and certainly weren’t ready for a low altitude 325 KIAS division crossing SEA approach corridors…obvious from multiple “…ask next sector” handoffs as we blew thru each before they could react. Also not sure what the conversation was in the 172 when the 4 ship passed under him somewhere south of Bellingham…
Real LL’d? Was the one drinking beer the next non-deployed July 4th.