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C90 TRACON controller reports operational error and expressed concern regarding lack of flow control measures during lowering RVR conditions; resulting in gars and heavy; complex traffic.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 651381 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200503 |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : ord.airport |
| State Reference | IL |
| Altitude | msl single value : 6000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : c90.tracon |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | MD-82 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | descent : approach landing : missed approach |
| Route In Use | arrival : on vectors |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : approach |
| Experience | controller military : 4 controller radar : 23 controller time certified in position1 : 19 |
| ASRS Report | 657381 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : supervisor |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | inflight encounter other other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | atc equipment : conflict alert other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : anomaly accepted |
| Consequence | faa : investigated |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | ATC Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | ATC Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Operational Error |
Narrative:
WX started VFR runway 4R and runway 9R at ord. WX deteriorated to 2200 ft RVR on runway 27L. WX then deteriorated to 1400 ft RVR on runway 27L; below many approach minimums; but the supervisor allowed the flow of traffic to continue after numerous missed approachs on runway 27L while continuing to accept aircraft for runway 27L&right. The situation continued until a runway change to runway 14R&left with at least 10 aircraft on vectors for runway 27L&right and missed approachs. Finally the decision was made to hold the arrs until the airspace could be cleared of missed approach aircraft. At one point; the situation became so critical that an MD82 stated that he would need to divert to apa (a GA airport) because of fuel. I told the aircraft he had 25 mi to the airport. I re-sequenced the other arrs to shorten the MD82's flight distance. This was one of the worst and unsafe sits I have seen in my 30 yrs of ATC service. The decision to hold arrs was made far too late and the safety of flight was seriously compromised.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: C90 TRACON CTLR RPTS OPERROR AND EXPRESSED CONCERN REGARDING LACK OF FLOW CTL MEASURES DURING LOWERING RVR CONDITIONS; RESULTING IN GARS AND HVY; COMPLEX TFC.
Narrative: WX STARTED VFR RWY 4R AND RWY 9R AT ORD. WX DETERIORATED TO 2200 FT RVR ON RWY 27L. WX THEN DETERIORATED TO 1400 FT RVR ON RWY 27L; BELOW MANY APCH MINIMUMS; BUT THE SUPVR ALLOWED THE FLOW OF TFC TO CONTINUE AFTER NUMEROUS MISSED APCHS ON RWY 27L WHILE CONTINUING TO ACCEPT ACFT FOR RWY 27L&R. THE SIT CONTINUED UNTIL A RWY CHANGE TO RWY 14R&L WITH AT LEAST 10 ACFT ON VECTORS FOR RWY 27L&R AND MISSED APCHS. FINALLY THE DECISION WAS MADE TO HOLD THE ARRS UNTIL THE AIRSPACE COULD BE CLRED OF MISSED APCH ACFT. AT ONE POINT; THE SIT BECAME SO CRITICAL THAT AN MD82 STATED THAT HE WOULD NEED TO DIVERT TO APA (A GA ARPT) BECAUSE OF FUEL. I TOLD THE ACFT HE HAD 25 MI TO THE ARPT. I RE-SEQUENCED THE OTHER ARRS TO SHORTEN THE MD82'S FLT DISTANCE. THIS WAS ONE OF THE WORST AND UNSAFE SITS I HAVE SEEN IN MY 30 YRS OF ATC SVC. THE DECISION TO HOLD ARRS WAS MADE FAR TOO LATE AND THE SAFETY OF FLT WAS SERIOUSLY COMPROMISED.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.