Narrative:

On oct/wed/06; after already assuming a radar final position I was instructed by a supervisor to 'try to use the pad as much as possible.' he was referring to a 6 inch X 9 inch or 5 inch by 8 inch (not sure of the exact dimensions) pad he had just dropped down in front of me. This also is a reference to an archaic procedure in our mem 7110.65 that requires usage of this pad while working radar position. This procedure has never been enforced until today. It brings to light how archaic this procedure is. Even supervisors (past and present) have admitted that they can't keep up the 'pad' and keep up with all of their traffic when 'busy.' this procedure was written long before mem implemented stars technology. The stars is never supposed to fail. The stars system has several backups including more than 1 radar system. The stars has several capabilities that would allow a controller to accomplish any 'pad' entry he/she would have made through automation (scratchpads or altitude assignment areas or leader line placement shown only on your radar scope so you're not affecting someone else's radar display) to remind yourself of altitude assignments; approach clrncs; or frequency changes. The ability to accomplish these reminders through automation (which allows you to continue to concentrate on your radar display) instead of writing on the pad (which requires you to look away from your radar display to make any pad entries and to look away again to reference any of these entries...which obviously takes your attention away from your radar display...and; not so obviously requires a short period to reacclimate one's self to his/her radar display each time they return their gaze to it) is an advancement technology has given us that we should take advantage of. In short; using the pad is a distraction. Forcing use of the pad will distract a controller's attention from their traffic and could potentially cause an operational error or even a midair collision! Particularly on the final position. The mem 7110.65 should be immediately amended to remove any requirement for use of the 'pad' in the radar environment. Pads should be available so controllers can write notes or denote unusual situations not included on the IDS4 display; but their use should not be mandatory.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MEM CTLR EXPRESSED CONCERN REGARDING FACILITY PROC MANDATING UTILIZATION OF PAPER PADS FOR RECORDING ACFT INFO AS PER FACILITY DIRECTIVE.

Narrative: ON OCT/WED/06; AFTER ALREADY ASSUMING A RADAR FINAL POS I WAS INSTRUCTED BY A SUPVR TO 'TRY TO USE THE PAD AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.' HE WAS REFERRING TO A 6 INCH X 9 INCH OR 5 INCH BY 8 INCH (NOT SURE OF THE EXACT DIMENSIONS) PAD HE HAD JUST DROPPED DOWN IN FRONT OF ME. THIS ALSO IS A REF TO AN ARCHAIC PROC IN OUR MEM 7110.65 THAT REQUIRES USAGE OF THIS PAD WHILE WORKING RADAR POS. THIS PROC HAS NEVER BEEN ENFORCED UNTIL TODAY. IT BRINGS TO LIGHT HOW ARCHAIC THIS PROC IS. EVEN SUPVRS (PAST AND PRESENT) HAVE ADMITTED THAT THEY CAN'T KEEP UP THE 'PAD' AND KEEP UP WITH ALL OF THEIR TFC WHEN 'BUSY.' THIS PROC WAS WRITTEN LONG BEFORE MEM IMPLEMENTED STARS TECHNOLOGY. THE STARS IS NEVER SUPPOSED TO FAIL. THE STARS SYS HAS SEVERAL BACKUPS INCLUDING MORE THAN 1 RADAR SYS. THE STARS HAS SEVERAL CAPABILITIES THAT WOULD ALLOW A CTLR TO ACCOMPLISH ANY 'PAD' ENTRY HE/SHE WOULD HAVE MADE THROUGH AUTOMATION (SCRATCHPADS OR ALT ASSIGNMENT AREAS OR LEADER LINE PLACEMENT SHOWN ONLY ON YOUR RADAR SCOPE SO YOU'RE NOT AFFECTING SOMEONE ELSE'S RADAR DISPLAY) TO REMIND YOURSELF OF ALT ASSIGNMENTS; APCH CLRNCS; OR FREQ CHANGES. THE ABILITY TO ACCOMPLISH THESE REMINDERS THROUGH AUTOMATION (WHICH ALLOWS YOU TO CONTINUE TO CONCENTRATE ON YOUR RADAR DISPLAY) INSTEAD OF WRITING ON THE PAD (WHICH REQUIRES YOU TO LOOK AWAY FROM YOUR RADAR DISPLAY TO MAKE ANY PAD ENTRIES AND TO LOOK AWAY AGAIN TO REF ANY OF THESE ENTRIES...WHICH OBVIOUSLY TAKES YOUR ATTN AWAY FROM YOUR RADAR DISPLAY...AND; NOT SO OBVIOUSLY REQUIRES A SHORT PERIOD TO REACCLIMATE ONE'S SELF TO HIS/HER RADAR DISPLAY EACH TIME THEY RETURN THEIR GAZE TO IT) IS AN ADVANCEMENT TECHNOLOGY HAS GIVEN US THAT WE SHOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF. IN SHORT; USING THE PAD IS A DISTR. FORCING USE OF THE PAD WILL DISTRACT A CTLR'S ATTN FROM THEIR TFC AND COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE AN OPERROR OR EVEN A MIDAIR COLLISION! PARTICULARLY ON THE FINAL POS. THE MEM 7110.65 SHOULD BE IMMEDIATELY AMENDED TO REMOVE ANY REQUIREMENT FOR USE OF THE 'PAD' IN THE RADAR ENVIRONMENT. PADS SHOULD BE AVAILABLE SO CTLRS CAN WRITE NOTES OR DENOTE UNUSUAL SITUATIONS NOT INCLUDED ON THE IDS4 DISPLAY; BUT THEIR USE SHOULD NOT BE MANDATORY.

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.