Narrative:

Ric controller's union has just been verbally notified that additional departure headings (down from 3 per runway to just 2) will be eliminated because; and I quote: 'ric controllers are pointing departing aircraft at arrs.' if these allegations are in fact true; where is the supporting documentation in the form of numerous operational error; operational deviation; near midair and flight assist reports? Ric union is seeking a full fledge independent investigation to these most serious allegations to commence immediately. Reference tiph; many of our ric controllers who have safely and efficiently utilized this valuable tool for many years while simultaneously working local control; and serving as controller in charge; now question the following: how is it that local control cannot utilize tiph in that dual role; as many have for dozens of years; but can utilize tiph when a front line manager that has been at ric for almost a year; is not even certified on local control; and has only a handful of OJT hours in a suspect attempt to possibly certify on local control at a much later date? If it is no longer safe to utilize in the dual role; then how can it be safe to utilize with a non certified individual acting as a front line manager? The ric controllers would very much like a briefing addressing the rationale behind this inexplicable decision. Between the numerous restrs imposed with the use of tiph; and now the further loss of departure headings; both the 'safe' and 'expeditious' flow of air traffic has been severely and adversely impacted. But that is what you get when over 80% of the LOA authors are not certified professional air traffic controllers at all; or are only required to work a minimum number of hours on each position to maintain currency.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: RIC CTLR EXPRESSED CONCERN REGARDING THE FACILITY'S POLICY REF THE NEW TIPH PROCS AND A NEW LOA RESTRICTING DEP HDGS.

Narrative: RIC CTLR'S UNION HAS JUST BEEN VERBALLY NOTIFIED THAT ADDITIONAL DEP HDGS (DOWN FROM 3 PER RWY TO JUST 2) WILL BE ELIMINATED BECAUSE; AND I QUOTE: 'RIC CTLRS ARE POINTING DEPARTING ACFT AT ARRS.' IF THESE ALLEGATIONS ARE IN FACT TRUE; WHERE IS THE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION IN THE FORM OF NUMEROUS OPERROR; OPDEV; NEAR MIDAIR AND FLT ASSIST RPTS? RIC UNION IS SEEKING A FULL FLEDGE INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION TO THESE MOST SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS TO COMMENCE IMMEDIATELY. REF TIPH; MANY OF OUR RIC CTLRS WHO HAVE SAFELY AND EFFICIENTLY UTILIZED THIS VALUABLE TOOL FOR MANY YEARS WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY WORKING LCL CTL; AND SERVING AS CTLR IN CHARGE; NOW QUESTION THE FOLLOWING: HOW IS IT THAT LCL CTL CANNOT UTILIZE TIPH IN THAT DUAL ROLE; AS MANY HAVE FOR DOZENS OF YEARS; BUT CAN UTILIZE TIPH WHEN A FRONT LINE MGR THAT HAS BEEN AT RIC FOR ALMOST A YEAR; IS NOT EVEN CERTIFIED ON LCL CTL; AND HAS ONLY A HANDFUL OF OJT HRS IN A SUSPECT ATTEMPT TO POSSIBLY CERTIFY ON LCL CTL AT A MUCH LATER DATE? IF IT IS NO LONGER SAFE TO UTILIZE IN THE DUAL ROLE; THEN HOW CAN IT BE SAFE TO UTILIZE WITH A NON CERTIFIED INDIVIDUAL ACTING AS A FRONT LINE MGR? THE RIC CTLRS WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE A BRIEFING ADDRESSING THE RATIONALE BEHIND THIS INEXPLICABLE DECISION. BTWN THE NUMEROUS RESTRS IMPOSED WITH THE USE OF TIPH; AND NOW THE FURTHER LOSS OF DEP HDGS; BOTH THE 'SAFE' AND 'EXPEDITIOUS' FLOW OF AIR TFC HAS BEEN SEVERELY AND ADVERSELY IMPACTED. BUT THAT IS WHAT YOU GET WHEN OVER 80% OF THE LOA AUTHORS ARE NOT CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL AIR TFC CTLRS AT ALL; OR ARE ONLY REQUIRED TO WORK A MINIMUM NUMBER OF HRS ON EACH POS TO MAINTAIN CURRENCY.

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.