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Air carrier crew reports single controller tower operation at oma; during a busy time with low visibility and darkness.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 725179 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200701 |
| Local Time Of Day | 0001 To 0600 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : oma.airport |
| State Reference | NE |
| Altitude | agl single value : 0 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tower : jfk.tower |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | Commercial Fixed Wing |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | ground : taxi |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 127 flight time total : 9000 flight time type : 6000 |
| ASRS Report | 725179 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Events | |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : unable |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | ATC Facility ATC Human Performance FAA Airport |
| Primary Problem | FAA |
| Situations | |
| ATC Facility | staffing : oma.tower |
Narrative:
Pre-dawn departure. Weather was less than 1/4 mile visibility. The lowest RVR reported on the departing runway was 500. At the time of our departure; there was one controller working; clearance; ground; and tower. He was simulcasting on all three frequencies. There were multiple aircraft moving on the ramp; and taxiways; including scheduled air carriers; and business aircraft from the opposite side of the field. In low visibility; there should have definitely been more people working. On takeoff roll; the tower controller was issuing a clearance to another aircraft on another frequency. In my opinion; this a safety risk that can be avoided. This should never be allowed to occur. There were several links in an accident chain: early; dark; weather; and only one controller. Throw in a little confusion and you have the perfect setup for an accident. Let's fix this one before it happens.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: ACR CREW REPORTS SINGLE CTLR TWR OPERATION AT OMA; DURING A BUSY TIME WITH LOW VISIBILITY AND DARKNESS.
Narrative: PRE-DAWN DEPARTURE. WEATHER WAS LESS THAN 1/4 MILE VISIBILITY. THE LOWEST RVR REPORTED ON THE DEPARTING RUNWAY WAS 500. AT THE TIME OF OUR DEPARTURE; THERE WAS ONE CONTROLLER WORKING; CLEARANCE; GROUND; AND TOWER. HE WAS SIMULCASTING ON ALL THREE FREQUENCIES. THERE WERE MULTIPLE AIRCRAFT MOVING ON THE RAMP; AND TAXIWAYS; INCLUDING SCHEDULED AIR CARRIERS; AND BUSINESS AIRCRAFT FROM THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE FIELD. IN LOW VISIBILITY; THERE SHOULD HAVE DEFINITELY BEEN MORE PEOPLE WORKING. ON TAKEOFF ROLL; THE TOWER CONTROLLER WAS ISSUING A CLEARANCE TO ANOTHER AIRCRAFT ON ANOTHER FREQUENCY. IN MY OPINION; THIS A SAFETY RISK THAT CAN BE AVOIDED. THIS SHOULD NEVER BE ALLOWED TO OCCUR. THERE WERE SEVERAL LINKS IN AN ACCIDENT CHAIN: EARLY; DARK; WEATHER; AND ONLY ONE CONTROLLER. THROW IN A LITTLE CONFUSION AND YOU HAVE THE PERFECT SETUP FOR AN ACCIDENT. LET'S FIX THIS ONE BEFORE IT HAPPENS.
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.