PIA Planes Avoid Collision in Iranian Airspace

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PIA Planes Avoid Collision in Iranian Airspace

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Abbas Ali
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Re: PIA Planes Avoid Collision in Iranian Airspace

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According to details, the incident occurred in Iranian air space around 12:54 UTC (5:54 AM Pakistan Local Time) on July 24.

PIA Boeing 777-200ER aircraft registration AP-BGJ Islamabad to Dubai flight PK211 flying at an altitude of 36,000 feet climbed to 36,275 feet.

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Source: flightradar24.com

PIA Airbus A320 aircraft registration AP-BLW Doha to Peshawar flight PK286 flying at an altitude of 35,000 feet descended to 34,650 feet.

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Source: flightradar24.com

According to PIA spokesperson, PIA Boeing 777-200ER aircraft registration AP-BGJ Islamabad to Dubai flight PK211 flying at an altitude of 36,000 feet was cleared by the Iranian air traffic control to descend to 20,000 feet in the flight path of PIA Airbus A320 aircraft registration AP-BLW Doha to Peshawar flight PK286 maintaining 35,000 feet altitude.

Advisories issued to pilots by Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) installed on both aircraft advised Boeing 777 flight PK211 to climb and Airbus A320 flight PK286 to descend for safe separation between the two aircraft.

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Source: flightradar24.com

PIA is writing to Iranian Air Traffic Control (ATC) for investigation.

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Re: PIA Planes Avoid Collision in Iranian Airspace

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Information on The Aviation Herald.

http://avherald.com/h?article=4fc2571d

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Re: PIA Planes Avoid Collision in Iranian Airspace

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Civil Aviation Organization of Islamic Republic of Iran (CAO.IRI) is investigating a claim of a near-miss between two PIA passenger flights in Iranian air space due to human error by air traffic controllers in Iran.

"Appropriate measures have been taken to obtain documents of the country's control centre, and we requested reports from the pilots of the planes for further investigation," said CAO.IRI deputy head Hassan Khoshkhoo. "Normally, after receiving all the documents, the issue is reviewed... and the final result is announced", he said.

Khoshkhoo said the planes had been equipped with the system that "gives the necessary warnings from a long distance," adding that "such incidents have also happened in other countries".

https://www.brecorder.com/news/40188460
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Re: PIA Planes Avoid Collision in Iranian Airspace

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Iran aviation chief says Pakistani pilot was to blame for near miss

Iran’s aviation chief says a near-miss between two Pakistani planes flying in the Iranian airspace on July 24 was due to an unauthorized decision by the pilot of one of the planes to descend to a dangerous altitude.

Speaking to reporters on Saturday, president of Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization (CAO) Mohammad Mohammadi Bakhsh criticized as “unprofessional” remarks made this week by a spokesperson of Pakistan International Airlines which blamed the near miss on human error by Iranian air traffic controllers.

Mohammadi Bakhsh said the pilot of one of the flights that were bound for Peshawar had misunderstood Iranian air traffic control and decided to drop to an altitude that could have led to a collision with another PIA flight bound for Dubai.

“We have the transcription of the conversation between the pilot and the country’s airspace control center. The pilot had a false understanding of the controller’s advice and reduced its altitude without clearance,” he was quoted by the official IRNA news agency.

“We will take legal action on this issue in the international (aviation) organizations,” said the official, who also serves as a deputy to Iran’s transportation minister.

https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2022/07/3 ... -near-miss
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Re: PIA Planes Avoid Collision in Iranian Airspace

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As per Avherald, Iraninan CAO has blamed the crew for incident:

"On Aug 14th 2022 Iran's CAO released their final report concluding the probable causes of the serious incident were:

Based on radar service within control area (CTA), the controller’s instructions and clearances for both traffics were correct, and the cause of TCAS/RA serious incident was the pilot’s misunderstanding, leading to mistakenly (PIA211) commence descent without receiving any clearance from Tehran ACC controller.

The CAO analysed:

According to the received evidence such as radar data, flight plan and voice communication, the PIA211 flight plan was against Traffic Orientation Scheme (TOS), which was issued and inserted in Iran AIP (DERBO G452 ZDN A453 DAVEP Q10 MOBET M324 PATAT). Therefore, the controller instructed PIA211 to proceed directly to PATAT to modify flight route to some extent. Later on, when the longitudinal separation between the two aircraft (PIA211 & PIA286) declined by 10 NM, while there was 1000 ft vertical separation, PIA211 commenced descent to FL200 without receiving any prior descent clearance. Simultaneously, the opposite traffic on reciprocal track, PIA286 received TCAS/RA descent command and descended down to FL346. The pilot of PIA286 declared TCAS/RA to Tehran ACC and when he was cleared of intruder traffic, returned to FL350. On the other hand, during passing FL357, PIA211 received TCAS/RA climb command and returned to FL360 as soon as possible. The pilot of PIA211 did not report TCAS/RA to Tehran ACC. When two traffic were cleared from each other, the PIA211 descended to FL200, and it was handed over to UAE radar for further descent."
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Re: PIA Planes Avoid Collision in Iranian Airspace

Post by adamalikhan »

IF the pilot was to blame here, this will be another mark against the airline and is not going to instill confidence in the aviation sector for PIA.
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Re: PIA Planes Avoid Collision in Iranian Airspace

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Iran Aircraft Accident Investigation Board (AAIB) investigation report:

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Subject: TCAS/RA Serious Incident Involving Flights PIA211 and PIA286 in Tehran FIR

We would like to inform you that upon being notified of the air proximity event between PIA211 & PIA286 within Tehran FIR, on 24 Jul 2022, the IR of Iran Aircraft Accident Investigation Board (AAIB), instituted and conducted safety investigation based on Annex 13 as below:

1- History of the flight:

On 24 Jul 2022, at 004122 UTC, PIA211 B772 from OPST to OMDB on airway A453 to BND then Airway M324 to MOBET at FL360 made a radio contact with Tehran ACC, when it was identified by Tehran radar controller. Then, the pilot requested the controller to advise any level restriction at MOBET position, and the controller told him, “PIA211 expect FL200 20 miles before PATAT, report when ready for descent”. The granted message was acknowledged by the pilot accordingly.

At 004254 UTC, another flight, PIA286 A320 from OTHH to OPPS at FL350 on reciprocal track via airway Z151 to KHM then airway A453 to ZDN was identified by Tehran radar controller, and following the pilot’s request, this flight was instructed to proceed directly to NABOX waypoint.

At 005107UTC, the controller instructed the PIA211 to proceed directly to PATAT waypoint and expect FL200, 20 NM before PATAT and stand by for descent. The pilot of PIA211 acknowledged the message correctly.

At 005307UTC, the pilot of PIA 286 declared TCAS/RA descending. Immediately, the controller told the PIA211, “You were told to stand by for descent”.

At 005407 Another flight on frequency told the PIA211 without expressing his call sign: “you were never given a clearance; you were told to call when ready”

At 005427UTC, the controller cleared PIA211 to descend FL200 and to maintain 20 NM before PATAT waypoint. The message was acknowledged by the PIA211.

At 010202UTC, PIA211 was handed over to the UAE radar on 124.85 for further descent.

On 27 Jul,2022, some parts of the above information were disclosed to the social media by the airline.

2- Analysis:

According to the received evidence such as radar data, flight plan and voice communication, the PIA211 flight plan was against Traffic Orientation Scheme (TOS), which was issued and inserted in Iran AIP (DERBO G452 ZDN A453 DAVEP Q10 MOBET M324 PATAT). Therefore, the controller instructed PIA211 to proceed directly to PATAT to modify flight route to some extent. Later on, when the longitudinal separation between the two aircraft (PIA211 & PIA286) declined by 10 NM, while there was 1000 ft vertical separation, PIA211 commenced descent to FL200 without receiving any prior descent clearance. Simultaneously, the opposite traffic on reciprocal track, PIA286 received TCAS/RA descent command and descended down to FL346. The pilot of PIA286 declared TCAS/RA to Tehran ACC and when he was cleared of intruder traffic, returned to FL350. On the other hand, during passing FL357, PIA211 received TCAS/RA climb command and returned to FL360 as soon as possible. The pilot of PIA211 did not report TCAS/RA to Tehran ACC. When two traffic were cleared from each other, the PIA211 descended to FL200, and it was handed over to UAE radar for further descent.

3- Conclusion:

Findings:

▪ The flight PIA211 started to descend without ATC clearance;
▪ Details of the flight plan route for PIA211 was against Iran TOS
▪ Disclosure of the incident report details to public by Pakistan International Air-lines spokesperson before issuing the Final Report was against international regulations as per Annex 13 and related documents

Cause:

Based on radar service within control area (CTA), the controller’s instructions and clearances for both traffics were correct, and the cause of TCAS/RA serious incident was the pilot’s misunderstanding, leading to mistakenly (PIA211) commence descent without receiving any clearance from Tehran ACC controller.

4- Safety Recommendations:

Due to repetition of similar recent events for improving safety of the flights in the Tehran FIR, Iran AAIB issues the following Safety Recommendations:

To Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority:

To take remedial action about pilot mistake based on the findings on the report for prevention of similar occurrences.

To Iranian Airport and Air navigation Company:

Even though the phraseology used by the controller was proper and correct, in order to prevent such an ambiguity or misunderstanding by pilots, it is recommended to make an inquiry from other States about similar and proper phraseology, for the purpose of substitution or amendment of current phraseology.

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Jetstream1
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Re: PIA Planes Avoid Collision in Iranian Airspace

Post by Jetstream1 »

Bad publicity for PIA but atleast the issue is clarified.
Edit: Deleted original message, misunderstanding on my part.
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Re: PIA Planes Avoid Collision in Iranian Airspace

Post by TAILWIND »

Not a very happy reading. Irani authorities rightly pointed out PIA spokesperson's premature blame throwing. Not reporting the event by PK211 crew is also a serious irregularity.
Lets see what actions are taken by CAA and/or airline.
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Re: PIA Planes Avoid Collision in Iranian Airspace

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