Narrative:

Safety policy having 2 controllers when the TRACON is combined in the tower. Last week the entire facility was briefed on mli's policy of 2 controllers when the TRACON is combined in the tower. We were instructed to have 2 controllers in the tower. However; if someone calls in sick and there is only 1 controller; we are to ask ZAU to take the airspace. The last time we did that; chicago said there was no procedures for them to take the airspace and have mli operate as a VFR tower. Chicago said they would take the airspace and work as if the tower was closed at night (no class C airspace). Mli management has instructed us that when this happens; we are to keep the airspace and work the TRACON combined in the tower by yourself; 1 controller. This is against the FAA's policy; and is an illegal and dangerous operation. I questioned supervisor that this was totally against the FAA's policy of having 2 controllers. I told him the entire nation heard about it a month ago after the kentucky crash. The supervisor stated that these are direct orders from the atm and they come from above him. I then made a request for these orders in writing. My request for both the orders in writing and the FAA's policy on 2 controllers was denied! (That's a cover-up!) I am very concerned that this is a very dangerous operation. And that I am being ordered not only to perform a dangerous operation but that it is also an illegal operation; plus the management refuses to provide any type of written documentation on this illegal and dangerous operation that they ordered! By refusing to provide any documentation; I believe the atm is trying to cover up his tracks of this illegal and dangerous operation that he ordered!

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MLI CTLR EXPRESSED CONCERN REGARDING STAFFING AND ORDERS FROM MGMNT THAT ARE ALLEGEDLY CONTRARY TO NATIONAL DIRECTIVES.

Narrative: SAFETY POLICY HAVING 2 CTLRS WHEN THE TRACON IS COMBINED IN THE TWR. LAST WK THE ENTIRE FACILITY WAS BRIEFED ON MLI'S POLICY OF 2 CTLRS WHEN THE TRACON IS COMBINED IN THE TWR. WE WERE INSTRUCTED TO HAVE 2 CTLRS IN THE TWR. HOWEVER; IF SOMEONE CALLS IN SICK AND THERE IS ONLY 1 CTLR; WE ARE TO ASK ZAU TO TAKE THE AIRSPACE. THE LAST TIME WE DID THAT; CHICAGO SAID THERE WAS NO PROCS FOR THEM TO TAKE THE AIRSPACE AND HAVE MLI OPERATE AS A VFR TWR. CHICAGO SAID THEY WOULD TAKE THE AIRSPACE AND WORK AS IF THE TWR WAS CLOSED AT NIGHT (NO CLASS C AIRSPACE). MLI MGMNT HAS INSTRUCTED US THAT WHEN THIS HAPPENS; WE ARE TO KEEP THE AIRSPACE AND WORK THE TRACON COMBINED IN THE TWR BY YOURSELF; 1 CTLR. THIS IS AGAINST THE FAA'S POLICY; AND IS AN ILLEGAL AND DANGEROUS OP. I QUESTIONED SUPVR THAT THIS WAS TOTALLY AGAINST THE FAA'S POLICY OF HAVING 2 CTLRS. I TOLD HIM THE ENTIRE NATION HEARD ABOUT IT A MONTH AGO AFTER THE KENTUCKY CRASH. THE SUPVR STATED THAT THESE ARE DIRECT ORDERS FROM THE ATM AND THEY COME FROM ABOVE HIM. I THEN MADE A REQUEST FOR THESE ORDERS IN WRITING. MY REQUEST FOR BOTH THE ORDERS IN WRITING AND THE FAA'S POLICY ON 2 CTLRS WAS DENIED! (THAT'S A COVER-UP!) I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS OP. AND THAT I AM BEING ORDERED NOT ONLY TO PERFORM A DANGEROUS OP BUT THAT IT IS ALSO AN ILLEGAL OP; PLUS THE MGMNT REFUSES TO PROVIDE ANY TYPE OF WRITTEN DOCUMENTATION ON THIS ILLEGAL AND DANGEROUS OP THAT THEY ORDERED! BY REFUSING TO PROVIDE ANY DOCUMENTATION; I BELIEVE THE ATM IS TRYING TO COVER UP HIS TRACKS OF THIS ILLEGAL AND DANGEROUS OP THAT HE ORDERED!

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.