Pit TRACON controller reported that bvi tower; a non-FAA facility; recently changed its hours to be ...

Narrative:

A non FAA tower has recently changed its hours to be closed on sundays. On sunday mornings; there are many aircraft in the immediate vicinity of the airport. Aircraft X called via the rco and was issued his clearance. He stated he was number 3 for departure. I instructed him to hold for release and advise number 1 ready to go. Aircraft X called number 1 and I released him via enter controlled airspace via heading 280. This was done due to the amount of VFR traffic in the pattern. I assumed a 280 heading would get the aircraft out of the local traffic pattern safely and allow for a turn on course to the southeast once aircraft X got above any traffic in the local area. I was coordinating and heard a conflict alert. I looked up to see aircraft X less than a mile behind a VFR target and closing. I issued traffic and then a traffic alert to aircraft X who hadn't check on the frequency. I observed aircraft X turn southeast to avoid the VFR traffic. He checked on and we discussed the fact he had to turn to avoid the VFR aircraft in the pattern. I did not brasher warn the aircraft as I thought his deviation from his assigned heading was for safety. [Later that day]; aircraft Y was conducting an approach. Conflict alert activated on approximately a 3 mile final due to one of several VFR targets in the traffic pattern. I did not issue a safety alert. Aircraft Y was instructed to change to advisory frequency prior to the conflict being observed. I did issue caution numerous VFR targets in the vicinity of the airport to aircraft Y prior to frequency change. There is a high level of traffic in the pattern at this airport especially on sunday morning. The non-federal tower being closed makes no safety sense. This is a recent change in operating hours and was done as a cost saving measure. Study the traffic at the airport and make recommendations to the non-federal provider on hours of operation. This tower should reestablish some sort of sunday hours based on traffic and services required. A study of traffic count should be used to establish these hours.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PIT TRACON Controller reported that BVI Tower; a non-FAA facility; recently changed its hours to be closed on Sundays. The PIT Controller recommended the Tower be open on Sundays due to the high levels of traffic.

Narrative: A Non FAA Tower has recently changed its hours to be closed on Sundays. On Sunday mornings; there are many aircraft in the immediate vicinity of the airport. Aircraft X called via the RCO and was issued his clearance. He stated he was number 3 for departure. I instructed him to hold for release and advise number 1 ready to go. Aircraft X called number 1 and I released him via enter controlled airspace via heading 280. This was done due to the amount of VFR traffic in the pattern. I assumed a 280 heading would get the aircraft out of the local traffic pattern safely and allow for a turn on course to the southeast once Aircraft X got above any traffic in the local area. I was coordinating and heard a Conflict Alert. I looked up to see Aircraft X less than a mile behind a VFR target and closing. I issued traffic and then a traffic alert to Aircraft X who hadn't check on the frequency. I observed Aircraft X turn southeast to avoid the VFR traffic. He checked on and we discussed the fact he had to turn to avoid the VFR aircraft in the pattern. I did not brasher warn the aircraft as I thought his deviation from his assigned heading was for safety. [Later that day]; Aircraft Y was conducting an approach. Conflict Alert activated on approximately a 3 mile final due to one of several VFR targets in the traffic pattern. I did not issue a safety alert. Aircraft Y was instructed to change to advisory frequency prior to the conflict being observed. I did issue caution numerous VFR targets in the vicinity of the airport to Aircraft Y prior to frequency change. There is a high level of traffic in the pattern at this airport especially on Sunday morning. The non-federal tower being closed makes no safety sense. This is a recent change in operating hours and was done as a cost saving measure. Study the traffic at the airport and make recommendations to the Non-Federal provider on hours of operation. This Tower should reestablish some sort of Sunday hours based on traffic and services required. A study of traffic count should be used to establish these hours.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.

Attributes
ACN	1337254
Time
Date	201603
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	PIT.TRACON
State Reference	PA
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft Low Wing 1 Eng Retractable Gear
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Climb
Route In Use	Vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft Low Wing 1 Eng Fixed Gear
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Final Approach
Route In Use	Other VOR Approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Approach Departure
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Experience	Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 13
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Conflict Airborne Conflict Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

Pit TRACON controller reported that bvi tower; a non-FAA facility; recently changed its hours to be closed on sundays. The pit controller recommended the tower be open on sundays due to the high levels of traffic.