A319/B733, en-route, near Moutiers France, 2010

A319/B733, en-route, near Moutiers France, 2010

Summary

On 8 July 2010 an Easyjet Airbus A319 on which line training was being conducted mis-set a descent level despite correctly reading it back and, after subsequently failing to notice an ATC reiteration of the same cleared level, continued descent to 1000 feet below it in day VMC and into conflict with crossing traffic at that level, a Boeing 737. The 737 received and actioned a TCAS RA ‘CLIMB’ and the A319, which received only a TCAS TA, was given an emergency turn by ATC. The recorded CPA was 2.2 nm and 125 feet.

Description

On 8 July 2010, an Airbus A319 being operated by Easyjet on a scheduled passenger flight from London Gatwick to Milan Malpensa in day Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC) with line training in progress lost separation against crossing traffic at FL320, a Lufthansa Boeing 737-300 being operated on a scheduled passenger flight from Nice to Frankfurt, when the A319 descended below its cleared level.

Investigation

The Investigation was delegated by the French BEA to the Swiss AAIB. It was noted that the conflict had occurred in Class ‘A’ airspace. The Investigation was based upon R/T and radar recordings, mode ‘S’ data and the statements of the flight crew members and the air traffic controllers. It was specifically noted that “the EasyJet company did not provide the AAIB with data from the flight data recorders”.

It was noted that the commander of the A319 was a Training Captain engaged in line training an inexperienced First Officer but the Investigation did not establish which pilot had been designated as PF. It was established that conflict had occurred in day VMC.

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