Narrative:

While working local control #2, the approach lights to runway 36L went out. Maintenance was called and approximately 35 mins later a maintenance technician came to the tower and got between me and my position. I was unable to see the BRITE, amass, my strip pad, and portions of the runway. At no time did I give permission for him to be there. Due to the position of the approach lighting panel the technician needed to lean over my strip bay. An operational error occurred 2 months ago due to the same situation. How much longer does this need to go on, before some kind of action is taken. Supplemental information from acn 631410: during the morning arrival push, the approach lights for runway 36L went out. Because of this 2 aircraft went around. The problem I have is at (local controller #2) local position, I could not see the approach light panel. I have no idea how many aircraft made approachs before I noticed the approach lights were out. In my opinion this is a very unsafe operation.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MEM CTLR EXPRESSED CONCERN REGARDING MAINT REPAIR PROCS CAUSING LIMITED VISIBILITY IN THE TWR.

Narrative: WHILE WORKING LCL CTL #2, THE APCH LIGHTS TO RWY 36L WENT OUT. MAINT WAS CALLED AND APPROX 35 MINS LATER A MAINT TECHNICIAN CAME TO THE TWR AND GOT BTWN ME AND MY POS. I WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE BRITE, AMASS, MY STRIP PAD, AND PORTIONS OF THE RWY. AT NO TIME DID I GIVE PERMISSION FOR HIM TO BE THERE. DUE TO THE POS OF THE APCH LIGHTING PANEL THE TECHNICIAN NEEDED TO LEAN OVER MY STRIP BAY. AN OPERROR OCCURRED 2 MONTHS AGO DUE TO THE SAME SIT. HOW MUCH LONGER DOES THIS NEED TO GO ON, BEFORE SOME KIND OF ACTION IS TAKEN. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 631410: DURING THE MORNING ARR PUSH, THE APCH LIGHTS FOR RWY 36L WENT OUT. BECAUSE OF THIS 2 ACFT WENT AROUND. THE PROB I HAVE IS AT (LCL CTLR #2) LCL POS, I COULD NOT SEE THE APCH LIGHT PANEL. I HAVE NO IDEA HOW MANY ACFT MADE APCHS BEFORE I NOTICED THE APCH LIGHTS WERE OUT. IN MY OPINION THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE OP.

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.