Narrative:

I am an air traffic controller at dfw approach control (D10) at dfw. This facility has recently been investigated by the office of special counsel for allegations of covering up operrors. Concurrent with this investigation, we have experienced operrors resulting from interps of separation standards that differ from those that have been in common use for over 20 yrs. These interpretation deal primarily with the application of visual separation and when vertical separation may be discontinued. Additionally, these new interps either conflict with the plain language of FAA order 7110.65 or they add requirements that are not contained in that order. These changes have not been articulated clearly nor have they been briefed to all personnel. The result is that some people have been told of the new rules and some have not. The net effect of this is that it has created confusion, hesitation, and doubt in the minds of controllers. These conditions diminish the safety of the ATC system and they are completely self-inflicted by FAA management. For the first time in over 20 yrs, I am going to work a shift as an air traffic controller without the confidence of knowing exactly what I can or cannot do to separate airplanes. This situation needs to be corrected immediately. Addendum -- case in point. Today I came to work and I heard in the break room that director of air traffic in washington mandated that this facility turn on our 3 arrival runways at 3000 ft, 4000 ft, and 5000 ft. There is no briefing item to this effect, no facility order or directive, and no explanation of how or when this new procedure is to be applied. What exactly am I supposed to do with this information? This is an unworkable situation.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: D10 CTLR EXPRESSED FRUSTRATION REGARDING NEWLY REQUIRED VISUAL SEPARATION STANDARDS.

Narrative: I AM AN AIR TFC CTLR AT DFW APCH CTL (D10) AT DFW. THIS FACILITY HAS RECENTLY BEEN INVESTIGATED BY THE OFFICE OF SPECIAL COUNSEL FOR ALLEGATIONS OF COVERING UP OPERRORS. CONCURRENT WITH THIS INVESTIGATION, WE HAVE EXPERIENCED OPERRORS RESULTING FROM INTERPS OF SEPARATION STANDARDS THAT DIFFER FROM THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN IN COMMON USE FOR OVER 20 YRS. THESE INTERP DEAL PRIMARILY WITH THE APPLICATION OF VISUAL SEPARATION AND WHEN VERT SEPARATION MAY BE DISCONTINUED. ADDITIONALLY, THESE NEW INTERPS EITHER CONFLICT WITH THE PLAIN LANGUAGE OF FAA ORDER 7110.65 OR THEY ADD REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE NOT CONTAINED IN THAT ORDER. THESE CHANGES HAVE NOT BEEN ARTICULATED CLRLY NOR HAVE THEY BEEN BRIEFED TO ALL PERSONNEL. THE RESULT IS THAT SOME PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TOLD OF THE NEW RULES AND SOME HAVE NOT. THE NET EFFECT OF THIS IS THAT IT HAS CREATED CONFUSION, HESITATION, AND DOUBT IN THE MINDS OF CTLRS. THESE CONDITIONS DIMINISH THE SAFETY OF THE ATC SYS AND THEY ARE COMPLETELY SELF-INFLICTED BY FAA MGMNT. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OVER 20 YRS, I AM GOING TO WORK A SHIFT AS AN AIR TFC CTLR WITHOUT THE CONFIDENCE OF KNOWING EXACTLY WHAT I CAN OR CANNOT DO TO SEPARATE AIRPLANES. THIS SIT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED IMMEDIATELY. ADDENDUM -- CASE IN POINT. TODAY I CAME TO WORK AND I HEARD IN THE BREAK ROOM THAT DIRECTOR OF AIR TFC IN WASHINGTON MANDATED THAT THIS FACILITY TURN ON OUR 3 ARR RWYS AT 3000 FT, 4000 FT, AND 5000 FT. THERE IS NO BRIEFING ITEM TO THIS EFFECT, NO FACILITY ORDER OR DIRECTIVE, AND NO EXPLANATION OF HOW OR WHEN THIS NEW PROC IS TO BE APPLIED. WHAT EXACTLY AM I SUPPOSED TO DO WITH THIS INFO? THIS IS AN UNWORKABLE SIT.

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.