F2TH / GLID, vicinity St Gallen-Altenrhein Switzerland, 2017

F2TH / GLID, vicinity St Gallen-Altenrhein Switzerland, 2017

Summary

On 15 October 2017, a Falcon 2000EX on base leg for an easterly ILS approach at St Gallen-Altenrhein came into close proximity with a reciprocal track glider at 5000 feet QNH in Class ‘E’ airspace in day VMC with neither aircraft seeing the other until just before their minimum separation - 0.35 nm horizontally and 131 feet vertically - occurred. The Investigation attributed the conflict to the lack of relevant traffic separation requirements in Class E airspace and to the glider not having its transponder switched on and not listening out with the relevant ATC Unit.

Description

On 15 October 2017, a Falcon 2000 (CS-DLB) being operated by NetJets on a non-scheduled international positioning flight from Munich to St Gallen-Altenrhein as NJE050N with only the three crew members on board and an Arcus glider (HB-3442) on reciprocal tracks at 5000 feet passed very close to each other in day VMC after each had very late sightings of the opposing traffic.

Investigation

An Investigation was carried out by the Swiss Transportation Safety Investigation Board (STSB). The Glider was equipped with a FLARM collision avoidance system that was switched on during the entire flight and provided GPS position data. The Falcon 2000 was equipped with an FDR but data from this was not read - ATC radar data were accurate enough to establish its flight path.

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