Narrative:

This is actually 2 different incidents that happened within less than 15 minutes of each other. 1.) local control (local control) requested to right turn off runway 26L. I told the controller heading his choice released. Several minutes later; the second aircraft departs aircraft X on a right turn direct cadek (a fix on the TDOWN3 SID). The heading turned aircraft X right into a VFR target; indicating 095 that was overflying the airport and was not on frequency. After reviewing the tapes; the local control controller gave aircraft X a traffic called and said contact departure. As soon as aircraft X checked on; I immediately turned him to a 360 heading to avoid that traffic that was not on frequency. If aircraft X had gotten lost in frequency land or took too long to check in; aircraft X would have climbed right into the unidentified VFR target.2.) aircraft Y checked on with me in departure. On his flight strip; the local control controller had written 'turn left 120.' I said radar contact and nothing else. I needed aircraft Y to climb on the 120 heading for traffic. Aircraft Y comes back and asks if I want him on a heading; that he was never assigned one. I turn him left 120. After reviewing the tapes; the local control controller never issued aircraft Y a heading. The aircraft was only cleared for takeoff. Aircraft Y was on runway heading; flying directly at a mountain. Aircraft Y was climbing out of approximately 052 in a 080 MVA when I turned the aircraft.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ELP TRACON Controller reported two incidents where the Tower Controller issued unsafe headings.

Narrative: This is actually 2 different incidents that happened within less than 15 minutes of each other. 1.) Local control (LC) requested to right turn off Runway 26L. I told the Controller heading his choice released. Several minutes later; the second aircraft departs Aircraft X on a right turn direct CADEK (a fix on the TDOWN3 SID). The heading turned Aircraft X right into a VFR target; indicating 095 that was overflying the airport and was not on frequency. After reviewing the tapes; the LC Controller gave Aircraft X a traffic called and said contact departure. As soon as Aircraft X checked on; I immediately turned him to a 360 heading to avoid that traffic that was not on frequency. If Aircraft X had gotten lost in frequency land or took too long to check in; Aircraft X would have climbed right into the unidentified VFR target.2.) Aircraft Y checked on with me in departure. On his flight strip; the LC Controller had written 'Turn left 120.' I said radar contact and nothing else. I needed Aircraft Y to climb on the 120 heading for traffic. Aircraft Y comes back and asks if I want him on a heading; that he was never assigned one. I turn him left 120. After reviewing the tapes; the LC Controller never issued Aircraft Y a heading. The aircraft was only cleared for takeoff. Aircraft Y was on runway heading; flying directly at a mountain. Aircraft Y was climbing out of approximately 052 in a 080 MVA when I turned the aircraft.

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.