Reporter indicates procedure to flash runway number on local controller BRITE display for long term ...

Attributes
ACN	399167
Time
Date	199804
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ggg
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 0 msl bound upper : 0
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 15
ASRS Report	399167
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
ATC Facility	procedure or policy : unspecified

Narrative:

After a recent runway incursion, a procedure was instituted to use the ARTS ii computer to flash the runway number on the local control d-brite. This is to be done if a runway is closed and notamed closed or if just used for a few mins in the event of an airport vehicle on the runway for maintenance. The danger in this situation is that in the 13 yrs that I have been at this facility, I've seen all 3 of our runways resurfaced and grooved. Each yr we have a balloon race that closes one runway for a month or more. This blinking information on the scope was originally to be used to warn you that vehicles were temporarily on an otherwise usable runway. By leaving this information blinking for up to 10 months the controllers will become complacent to its use. Studies have shown that the human brain will eventually block out what was meant to be an 'attention getter.' this piece of equipment should not be misused like this.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: RPTR INDICATES PROC TO FLASH RWY NUMBER ON LCL CTLR BRITE DISPLAY FOR LONG TERM CLOSURES COULD CAUSE CTLRS TO BECOME COMPLACENT AND NOT USE THE PROC AS INTENDED.

Narrative: AFTER A RECENT RWY INCURSION, A PROC WAS INSTITUTED TO USE THE ARTS II COMPUTER TO FLASH THE RWY NUMBER ON THE LCL CTL D-BRITE. THIS IS TO BE DONE IF A RWY IS CLOSED AND NOTAMED CLOSED OR IF JUST USED FOR A FEW MINS IN THE EVENT OF AN ARPT VEHICLE ON THE RWY FOR MAINT. THE DANGER IN THIS SIT IS THAT IN THE 13 YRS THAT I HAVE BEEN AT THIS FACILITY, I'VE SEEN ALL 3 OF OUR RWYS RESURFACED AND GROOVED. EACH YR WE HAVE A BALLOON RACE THAT CLOSES ONE RWY FOR A MONTH OR MORE. THIS BLINKING INFO ON THE SCOPE WAS ORIGINALLY TO BE USED TO WARN YOU THAT VEHICLES WERE TEMPORARILY ON AN OTHERWISE USABLE RWY. BY LEAVING THIS INFO BLINKING FOR UP TO 10 MONTHS THE CTLRS WILL BECOME COMPLACENT TO ITS USE. STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT THE HUMAN BRAIN WILL EVENTUALLY BLOCK OUT WHAT WAS MEANT TO BE AN 'ATTN GETTER.' THIS PIECE OF EQUIP SHOULD NOT BE MISUSED LIKE THIS.

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.

Reporter indicates procedure to flash runway number on local controller BRITE display for long term closures could cause controllers to become complacent and not use the procedure as intended.