Narrative:

The air traffic manager had a trainee on local. The manager did not notice the learjet 45 on a right base for runway X descending out of 020; 3 miles southwest of ZZZ airport. The AA5 was on a right downwind for runway X level at 010. A collision alert sounded because the targets were merging. The trainee told the AA5 to turn left to avoid the learjet 45. This was a good thing. The manager transmitted over the trainee and told an AA1 to turn northbound while on short final runway X. I have 2 problems with this. The easiest thing to do would be to tell the learjet 45 remain at or above 015 and tell the grumman AA5 to remain at or below 010. This is impossible at ZZZ because the manager has the whole facility convinced we are a VFR tower and cannot assign altitudes to avoid collisions. Thus; day after day I watch controllers point 2 aircraft at each other as a collision alert sounds and only call traffic when an altitude assignment or suggested headings would remedy the situation. Please tell the manager we can assign altitudes and suggested headings in a class D and it is a good idea. It is much better than watching 2 targets merge with a collision alert sounding and frantically calling traffic. My second problem is the manager is the certifying official and he was tubing with 5 airplanes. He told an airplane on short final; the AA1; to turn northbound. You should have seen what the AA1 looked like out the window. Ugly! On top of that; if the manager had gotten the call sign correct; the AA5 would have been underneath the learjet 45 descending out of 018; and flying in the same direction. Thank god the trainee saved the day and the manager got the callsign wrong. Explain to my air traffic manager that we can assign aircraft altitudes in a class delta. Please force him to put out an right&I to the entire facility stating so. I try to teach trainees it is easier to have a helicopter transition overhead mid field at 015 so in the event of a go-around you can tell a learjet 45 maintain 010 until the conflict is averted. Right now the majority of the facility just calls traffic and prays. Please help!!!

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Tower Controller described a conflict event when the facility manager; providing OJT; discouraged the use of assigned altitudes by VFR Tower controllers in Class D airspace.

Narrative: The Air Traffic Manager had a Trainee on Local. The Manager did not notice the Learjet 45 on a right base for Runway X descending out of 020; 3 miles southwest of ZZZ airport. The AA5 was on a right downwind for Runway X level at 010. A collision alert sounded because the targets were merging. The Trainee told the AA5 to turn left to avoid the LearJet 45. This was a good thing. The Manager transmitted over the Trainee and told an AA1 to turn northbound while on short final Runway X. I have 2 problems with this. The easiest thing to do would be to tell the Learjet 45 remain at or above 015 and tell the Grumman AA5 to remain at or below 010. This is impossible at ZZZ because the Manager has the whole facility convinced we are a VFR Tower and cannot assign altitudes to avoid collisions. Thus; day after day I watch controllers point 2 aircraft at each other as a collision alert sounds and only call traffic when an altitude assignment or suggested headings would remedy the situation. Please tell the Manager we can assign altitudes and suggested headings in a Class D and it is a good idea. It is much better than watching 2 targets merge with a collision alert sounding and frantically calling traffic. My second problem is the Manager is the certifying official and he was tubing with 5 airplanes. He told an airplane on short final; the AA1; to turn northbound. You should have seen what the AA1 looked like out the window. Ugly! On top of that; if the manager had gotten the call sign correct; the AA5 would have been underneath the Learjet 45 descending out of 018; and flying in the same direction. Thank God the Trainee saved the day and the Manager got the callsign wrong. Explain to my Air Traffic Manager that we can assign aircraft altitudes in a Class Delta. Please force him to put out an R&I to the entire facility stating so. I try to teach trainees it is easier to have a helicopter transition overhead mid field at 015 so in the event of a go-around you can tell a Learjet 45 maintain 010 until the conflict is averted. Right now the majority of the facility just calls traffic and prays. Please help!!!

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.