Narrative:

Runway xx in use; VMC. I was working all of the functions in the tower: local control; ground control; and clearance delivery. A helicopter requested a departure clearance to the north; for about 50 mi; at 1000 ft. I told him to 'stand by for coordination.' an air carrier on 3 mi final then called; and I cleared that aircraft to land. Aircraft X then informed me 'on taxiway B; ready for departure.' I had not issued a clearance for aircraft X to taxi onto a movement area. I then called east radar to coordination 'on course' for the departure; and to keep aircraft X on tower frequency; until he cleared the class C airspace. After issuing takeoff clearance; I observed aircraft X depart north for about 1.5 - 2 mi; before making an abrupt turn to the left; westerly. After waiting several seconds to see if he would resume a northerly flight; I asked his heading. He replied '270;' and that he had 'received a revised routing.' since aircraft X was now entering west radar airspace; I then coordination with the west radar controller. This took a couple of efforts; due to west radar being busy with other aircraft. There have been numerous reports from controllers to supervisors; of this aircraft taxiing onto movement areas without authority/authorized. Unfortunately; not one supervisor has called the operator to warn them of the hazards of such activity; and correct them. One supervisor recently even told a controller that it was not his job to do so. In addition; the unexpected 90 degree turn causes great concern. The approach controller expected the flight to be as I coordination. The turn into west radar airspace caused me to immediately have to turn my attention to coordinating with west radar. There was no traffic that was a factor; but there could have been. Often; there are aircraft operating at low levels; on sight-seeing trips; or taking photographs; as this is a popular and scenic tourist destination; and the area is experiencing tremendous growth; and that includes the immediate airport area.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CTLR VOICED CONCERN REGARDING A LCL HELI OPERATOR WHO ALLEGEDLY CONDUCTS ARPT MOVEMENTS WITHOUT APPROPRIATE ATC CLRNCS.

Narrative: RWY XX IN USE; VMC. I WAS WORKING ALL OF THE FUNCTIONS IN THE TWR: LCL CTL; GND CTL; AND CLRNC DELIVERY. A HELI REQUESTED A DEP CLRNC TO THE N; FOR ABOUT 50 MI; AT 1000 FT. I TOLD HIM TO 'STAND BY FOR COORD.' AN ACR ON 3 MI FINAL THEN CALLED; AND I CLRED THAT ACFT TO LAND. ACFT X THEN INFORMED ME 'ON TXWY B; READY FOR DEP.' I HAD NOT ISSUED A CLRNC FOR ACFT X TO TAXI ONTO A MOVEMENT AREA. I THEN CALLED E RADAR TO COORD 'ON COURSE' FOR THE DEP; AND TO KEEP ACFT X ON TWR FREQ; UNTIL HE CLRED THE CLASS C AIRSPACE. AFTER ISSUING TKOF CLRNC; I OBSERVED ACFT X DEPART N FOR ABOUT 1.5 - 2 MI; BEFORE MAKING AN ABRUPT TURN TO THE L; WESTERLY. AFTER WAITING SEVERAL SECONDS TO SEE IF HE WOULD RESUME A NORTHERLY FLT; I ASKED HIS HDG. HE REPLIED '270;' AND THAT HE HAD 'RECEIVED A REVISED ROUTING.' SINCE ACFT X WAS NOW ENTERING W RADAR AIRSPACE; I THEN COORD WITH THE W RADAR CTLR. THIS TOOK A COUPLE OF EFFORTS; DUE TO W RADAR BEING BUSY WITH OTHER ACFT. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS RPTS FROM CTLRS TO SUPVRS; OF THIS ACFT TAXIING ONTO MOVEMENT AREAS WITHOUT AUTH. UNFORTUNATELY; NOT ONE SUPVR HAS CALLED THE OPERATOR TO WARN THEM OF THE HAZARDS OF SUCH ACTIVITY; AND CORRECT THEM. ONE SUPVR RECENTLY EVEN TOLD A CTLR THAT IT WAS NOT HIS JOB TO DO SO. IN ADDITION; THE UNEXPECTED 90 DEG TURN CAUSES GREAT CONCERN. THE APCH CTLR EXPECTED THE FLT TO BE AS I COORD. THE TURN INTO W RADAR AIRSPACE CAUSED ME TO IMMEDIATELY HAVE TO TURN MY ATTN TO COORDINATING WITH W RADAR. THERE WAS NO TFC THAT WAS A FACTOR; BUT THERE COULD HAVE BEEN. OFTEN; THERE ARE ACFT OPERATING AT LOW LEVELS; ON SIGHT-SEEING TRIPS; OR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS; AS THIS IS A POPULAR AND SCENIC TOURIST DEST; AND THE AREA IS EXPERIENCING TREMENDOUS GROWTH; AND THAT INCLUDES THE IMMEDIATE ARPT AREA.

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.