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P31 controller expressed concern regarding the new requirement for approach controllers to notify local towers when MSAW alerts are activated.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 690414 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200602 |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : p31.tracon |
| State Reference | FL |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : approach |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Experience | controller radar : 12 controller time certified in position1 : 10 |
| ASRS Report | 690414 |
| Events | |
| Independent Detector | other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : anomaly accepted |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | FAA |
| Primary Problem | FAA |
| Situations | |
| ATC Facility | procedure or policy : p31.tracon |
Narrative:
In a genot dated feb/xa/06; the FAA has directed that all TRACON controllers who observe an aircraft indicating an MSAW alert; but are not talking to the aircraft; must alert the remote tower that is working the aircraft; even if the remote tower has aural and visual MSAW alert capability. However; at my facility and numerous others; the agency has not set the alert altitudes properly. As a result; we are bombarded with nuisance; false MSAW alerts; which we must now pass to the tower. I have brought this condition to the attention of local management as well as our local staff support specialists. They acknowledge the problem; but nothing has been done. I am concerned that because of the number of these false alerts; there is an increased chance the controller could miss an actual; valid MSAW alert. In addition; the added workload of passing these false alarms creates added confusion and distraction.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: P31 CTLR EXPRESSED CONCERN REGARDING THE NEW REQUIREMENT FOR APCH CTLRS TO NOTIFY LCL TWRS WHEN MSAW ALERTS ARE ACTIVATED.
Narrative: IN A GENOT DATED FEB/XA/06; THE FAA HAS DIRECTED THAT ALL TRACON CTLRS WHO OBSERVE AN ACFT INDICATING AN MSAW ALERT; BUT ARE NOT TALKING TO THE ACFT; MUST ALERT THE REMOTE TWR THAT IS WORKING THE ACFT; EVEN IF THE REMOTE TWR HAS AURAL AND VISUAL MSAW ALERT CAPABILITY. HOWEVER; AT MY FACILITY AND NUMEROUS OTHERS; THE AGENCY HAS NOT SET THE ALERT ALTS PROPERLY. AS A RESULT; WE ARE BOMBARDED WITH NUISANCE; FALSE MSAW ALERTS; WHICH WE MUST NOW PASS TO THE TWR. I HAVE BROUGHT THIS CONDITION TO THE ATTN OF LCL MGMNT AS WELL AS OUR LCL STAFF SUPPORT SPECIALISTS. THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROB; BUT NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. I AM CONCERNED THAT BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF THESE FALSE ALERTS; THERE IS AN INCREASED CHANCE THE CTLR COULD MISS AN ACTUAL; VALID MSAW ALERT. IN ADDITION; THE ADDED WORKLOAD OF PASSING THESE FALSE ALARMS CREATES ADDED CONFUSION AND DISTR.
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.