Reporter stated the facility manager directed controllers to put rptable RVR readings on the ATIS. R...

Attributes
ACN	408571
Time
Date	199807
Day	Mon
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : alb
State Reference	NY
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : cle
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller military : 4 controller radar : 9
ASRS Report	408571
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	oversight : supervisor
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : unspecified other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
ATC Facility	other physical facility procedure or policy : unspecified
Navigational Aid	Unspecified

Narrative:

Airways facilities maintenance installed software into the AWOS reporting that displays RVR information on the oid. The controllers at alb were directed to take the RVR information from the oid and not the direct reporting equipment. Additionally, we were directed to include the RVR information on the ATIS. Several hazards to safety are present in this scenario. The oid is located behind the local controller. This requires the local controller to interrupt his/her scan to look behind him/her to provide RVR information. The requirement for RVR to be put on the ATIS requires the ATIS maker to remake the ATIS any time the RVR changes, so as to not mislead the pilots landing at albany. This places an undue burden on the clearance delivery person and distracts him/her from the primary job functions. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter stated since the report was sent and a response to a ucr that was filed about the same time, the facility manager has reversed his order that controllers put all reported RVR readings on the ATIS. He had also required controllers to disregard using direct RVR readings from equipment on the panel and use only RVR values shown on the oid equipment located in the back of the tower cabin attendant. He also rescinded that order. The reporter said the facility manager has an FSS backgnd which sometimes causes communication difficulties.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: RPTR STATED THE FACILITY MGR DIRECTED CTLRS TO PUT RPTABLE RVR READINGS ON THE ATIS. RPTR ALSO CLAIMS THE MGR ADVISED THE CTLRS TO DISREGARD THE RVR VALUES SHOWN ON THE EQUIP IN THE PANEL AND USE THE READINGS DISPLAYED ON THE OID.

Narrative: AIRWAYS FACILITIES MAINT INSTALLED SOFTWARE INTO THE AWOS RPTING THAT DISPLAYS RVR INFO ON THE OID. THE CTLRS AT ALB WERE DIRECTED TO TAKE THE RVR INFO FROM THE OID AND NOT THE DIRECT RPTING EQUIP. ADDITIONALLY, WE WERE DIRECTED TO INCLUDE THE RVR INFO ON THE ATIS. SEVERAL HAZARDS TO SAFETY ARE PRESENT IN THIS SCENARIO. THE OID IS LOCATED BEHIND THE LCL CTLR. THIS REQUIRES THE LCL CTLR TO INTERRUPT HIS/HER SCAN TO LOOK BEHIND HIM/HER TO PROVIDE RVR INFO. THE REQUIREMENT FOR RVR TO BE PUT ON THE ATIS REQUIRES THE ATIS MAKER TO REMAKE THE ATIS ANY TIME THE RVR CHANGES, SO AS TO NOT MISLEAD THE PLTS LNDG AT ALBANY. THIS PLACES AN UNDUE BURDEN ON THE CLRNC DELIVERY PERSON AND DISTRACTS HIM/HER FROM THE PRIMARY JOB FUNCTIONS. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATED SINCE THE RPT WAS SENT AND A RESPONSE TO A UCR THAT WAS FILED ABOUT THE SAME TIME, THE FACILITY MGR HAS REVERSED HIS ORDER THAT CTLRS PUT ALL RPTED RVR READINGS ON THE ATIS. HE HAD ALSO REQUIRED CTLRS TO DISREGARD USING DIRECT RVR READINGS FROM EQUIP ON THE PANEL AND USE ONLY RVR VALUES SHOWN ON THE OID EQUIP LOCATED IN THE BACK OF THE TWR CAB. HE ALSO RESCINDED THAT ORDER. THE RPTR SAID THE FACILITY MGR HAS AN FSS BACKGND WHICH SOMETIMES CAUSES COM DIFFICULTIES.

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 stated the facility manager directed controllers to put rptable RVR readings on the ATIS. Reporter also claims the manager advised the controllers to disregard the RVR values shown on the equipment in the panel and use the readings displayed on the oid.