 |
37000 Feet | Browse and search NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System |
|
Tower controller reported wasps flying around the tower cab create an unsafe distraction.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1756121 |
| Time | |
| Date | 202008 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201-1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ACT.Tower |
| State Reference | TX |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer |
| Flight Phase | Other VFR Traffic Pattern |
| Route In Use | None |
| Flight Plan | VFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Supervisor / CIC Ground Local Flight Data / Clearance Delivery |
| Qualification | Air Traffic Control Fully Certified |
| Experience | Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 5 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | ATC Issue All Types |
Narrative:
Working the tower cabin attendant combined; I was filling the role of clearance delivery; local control; ground control; and tower controller in charge (controller in charge). There was an average amount of traffic for the time of day; and it was picking up. As it got busier I was moving around the tower cab more. This movement caused a yellow jacket wasp; maybe two; to stir and start flying around the tower. As I do not know if I am allergic to wasps or not; this was very concerning. This also created a very distracted work environment and a possibly unsafe situation for the aircraft that I was controlling. This is a reoccurring event and management has been notified. The city manager left a spray can of insect killer as the 'remedy' for the situation. This is not a solution at all; but it was what was available since they were flying over my head and dive bombing me. I had to spray the wasp as it landed on the window. This also created an issue as the spray ran down the window and partially obstructed the view out of said window. There is a current ucr (unsafe condition report) on file for this same issue; as it has happened a lot in the past. Fix the holes in the tower cab allowing the wasps and other insects to enter from the outside.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: Tower Controller reported wasps flying around the Tower Cab create an unsafe distraction.
Narrative: Working the tower CAB combined; I was filling the role of clearance delivery; local control; ground control; and tower CIC (Controller in Charge). There was an average amount of traffic for the time of day; and it was picking up. As it got busier I was moving around the tower cab more. This movement caused a yellow jacket wasp; maybe two; to stir and start flying around the tower. As I do not know if I am allergic to wasps or not; this was very concerning. This also created a very distracted work environment and a possibly unsafe situation for the aircraft that I was controlling. This is a reoccurring event and management has been notified. The city manager left a spray can of insect killer as the 'remedy' for the situation. This is not a solution at all; but it was what was available since they were flying over my head and dive bombing me. I had to spray the wasp as it landed on the window. This also created an issue as the spray ran down the window and partially obstructed the view out of said window. There is a current UCR (Unsafe Condition Report) on file for this same issue; as it has happened a lot in the past. Fix the holes in the tower cab allowing the wasps and other insects to enter from the outside.
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.