Narrative:

Until very recently (last 30 days) it was required SOP that the controller in charge position be assigned in both tower and radar. This responsibility was usually assigned to a certified controller who was also working another position. Rarely; was this position staffed as a stand-alone. This is due to our reduced staffing levels at rno. Like other facilities; this is a result of at least 10 retirees and a xfer. Since the FAA has all; but eliminated overtime to properly staff shifts; therefore; the facility atm has mandated combining clearance delivery; and ground control in spite of controller objections. These objections are based on taking away the controllers attention from the runways and txwys and requiring them to work the clearance position with head down on flight strips; ARTS keyboard; ATIS equipment; etc. Due to decrease in qualified controllers and the departure of 2 supervisors the atm began a practice of eliminating a controller in charge in either the TRACON or tower. If the supervisor was in the tower; they would combine the controller in charge function to the tower or vice versa. To expound the situation the atm began a practice of assigning watch supervision duties in the tower and combining the radar controller in charge to himself in the tower; eliminating the ability to 'maintain situational awareness' of the radar operation. The other practice includes a new supervisor who is not yet qualified through the tower cabin attendant. Both of these incidents are in direct violation of FAA orders 7210.36 2-6-1; 2-6-2; 2-6-3 an the facility SOP. On the morning of apr/thu/07; I was controller in charge in the tower and was also working clearance delivery and ground control combined. The atm came upstairs and assumed both tower and radar controller in charge responsibilities. I asked him if he was medically qualified to perform controller in charge/supervisor duties to which he replied 'I donT' have to.' I referenced the above paragraphs and stated that not only does he have to possess a medical certificate but that both he and the new supervisor needed to be facility qualified in order to conduct those duties. I was instructed to no longer question him about it. The FAA claims there's not a staffing issue; but they are disregarding long standing regulations; failing to properly staff the facilities and forcing controllers to work combined traffic. This happening elsewhere.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: RNO CTLR VOICED CONCERN REGARDING STAFFING AND MGMNT PRACTICES REF SUPVR DUTIES AND QUALIFICATIONS.

Narrative: UNTIL VERY RECENTLY (LAST 30 DAYS) IT WAS REQUIRED SOP THAT THE CIC POS BE ASSIGNED IN BOTH TWR AND RADAR. THIS RESPONSIBILITY WAS USUALLY ASSIGNED TO A CERTIFIED CTLR WHO WAS ALSO WORKING ANOTHER POS. RARELY; WAS THIS POS STAFFED AS A STAND-ALONE. THIS IS DUE TO OUR REDUCED STAFFING LEVELS AT RNO. LIKE OTHER FACILITIES; THIS IS A RESULT OF AT LEAST 10 RETIREES AND A XFER. SINCE THE FAA HAS ALL; BUT ELIMINATED OVERTIME TO PROPERLY STAFF SHIFTS; THEREFORE; THE FACILITY ATM HAS MANDATED COMBINING CLRNC DELIVERY; AND GND CTL IN SPITE OF CTLR OBJECTIONS. THESE OBJECTIONS ARE BASED ON TAKING AWAY THE CTLRS ATTN FROM THE RWYS AND TXWYS AND REQUIRING THEM TO WORK THE CLRNC POS WITH HEAD DOWN ON FLT STRIPS; ARTS KEYBOARD; ATIS EQUIP; ETC. DUE TO DECREASE IN QUALIFIED CTLRS AND THE DEP OF 2 SUPVRS THE ATM BEGAN A PRACTICE OF ELIMINATING A CIC IN EITHER THE TRACON OR TWR. IF THE SUPVR WAS IN THE TWR; THEY WOULD COMBINE THE CIC FUNCTION TO THE TWR OR VICE VERSA. TO EXPOUND THE SIT THE ATM BEGAN A PRACTICE OF ASSIGNING WATCH SUPERVISION DUTIES IN THE TWR AND COMBINING THE RADAR CIC TO HIMSELF IN THE TWR; ELIMINATING THE ABILITY TO 'MAINTAIN SITUATIONAL AWARENESS' OF THE RADAR OP. THE OTHER PRACTICE INCLUDES A NEW SUPVR WHO IS NOT YET QUALIFIED THROUGH THE TWR CAB. BOTH OF THESE INCIDENTS ARE IN DIRECT VIOLATION OF FAA ORDERS 7210.36 2-6-1; 2-6-2; 2-6-3 AN THE FACILITY SOP. ON THE MORNING OF APR/THU/07; I WAS CIC IN THE TWR AND WAS ALSO WORKING CLRNC DELIVERY AND GND CTL COMBINED. THE ATM CAME UPSTAIRS AND ASSUMED BOTH TWR AND RADAR CIC RESPONSIBILITIES. I ASKED HIM IF HE WAS MEDICALLY QUALIFIED TO PERFORM CIC/SUPVR DUTIES TO WHICH HE REPLIED 'I DONT' HAVE TO.' I REFED THE ABOVE PARAGRAPHS AND STATED THAT NOT ONLY DOES HE HAVE TO POSSESS A MEDICAL CERTIFICATE BUT THAT BOTH HE AND THE NEW SUPVR NEEDED TO BE FACILITY QUALIFIED IN ORDER TO CONDUCT THOSE DUTIES. I WAS INSTRUCTED TO NO LONGER QUESTION HIM ABOUT IT. THE FAA CLAIMS THERE'S NOT A STAFFING ISSUE; BUT THEY ARE DISREGARDING LONG STANDING REGS; FAILING TO PROPERLY STAFF THE FACILITIES AND FORCING CTLRS TO WORK COMBINED TFC. THIS HAPPENING ELSEWHERE.

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.