Unfamiliarity with ILS switching panel.

Attributes
ACN	285839
Time
Date	199410
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : geg
State Reference	WA
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : geg tower : geg
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 11
ASRS Report	285839
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

I was working the local (tower) position when an air carrier X flight departed geg to pdx, IFR. After air carrier X contacted departure radar, departure radar controller advised me via landline that air carrier X (who departed runway 21) has an in-flight 'situation' and needs to return as soon as possible via course reversal, fly the ILS to runway 3 and land. Within the last few days, however, FAA technicians had installed a new (and completely different) ILS monitor and switching panel in the tower cabin attendant, and myself or other 2 controllers also in the cabin attendant had not been briefed or trained on its operation. Thus, for a short period of time, I was not able to change the localizer from runway 21 to runway 03 to accommodate the immediate request of the pilot. I advised the radar controller of the situation, and luckily, he had overheard how to select locs. He gave me instructions, I changed the localizer very shortly thereafter, with the air carrier flight at the final approach fix for the ILS. The aircraft's left engine nacelle had come loose, and the pilot feared an in-flight loss of the nacelle and/or other complications. This critical situation could have been avoided if FAA technicians had briefed controllers prior to the new tower monitor being installed. However, it's 'business as usual' around here, and has been for a long time!!!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: UNFAMILIARITY WITH ILS SWITCHING PANEL.

Narrative: I WAS WORKING THE LCL (TWR) POS WHEN AN ACR X FLT DEPARTED GEG TO PDX, IFR. AFTER ACR X CONTACTED DEP RADAR, DEP RADAR CTLR ADVISED ME VIA LANDLINE THAT ACR X (WHO DEPARTED RWY 21) HAS AN INFLT 'SIT' AND NEEDS TO RETURN ASAP VIA COURSE REVERSAL, FLY THE ILS TO RWY 3 AND LAND. WITHIN THE LAST FEW DAYS, HOWEVER, FAA TECHNICIANS HAD INSTALLED A NEW (AND COMPLETELY DIFFERENT) ILS MONITOR AND SWITCHING PANEL IN THE TWR CAB, AND MYSELF OR OTHER 2 CTLRS ALSO IN THE CAB HAD NOT BEEN BRIEFED OR TRAINED ON ITS OP. THUS, FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, I WAS NOT ABLE TO CHANGE THE LOC FROM RWY 21 TO RWY 03 TO ACCOMMODATE THE IMMEDIATE REQUEST OF THE PLT. I ADVISED THE RADAR CTLR OF THE SIT, AND LUCKILY, HE HAD OVERHEARD HOW TO SELECT LOCS. HE GAVE ME INSTRUCTIONS, I CHANGED THE LOC VERY SHORTLY THEREAFTER, WITH THE ACR FLT AT THE FINAL APCH FIX FOR THE ILS. THE ACFT'S L ENG NACELLE HAD COME LOOSE, AND THE PLT FEARED AN INFLT LOSS OF THE NACELLE AND/OR OTHER COMPLICATIONS. THIS CRITICAL SIT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF FAA TECHNICIANS HAD BRIEFED CTLRS PRIOR TO THE NEW TWR MONITOR BEING INSTALLED. HOWEVER, IT'S 'BUSINESS AS USUAL' AROUND HERE, AND HAS BEEN FOR A LONG TIME!!!

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.