Narrative:

I was working FV2 position during SAPR1 operation. There are very few procedures in place for this operation; relying mostly on standard separation in 7110.65 and shared responsibilities between FV1 and FV2 for visual separation application. I was vectoring my arrs to runway 27L; using the mxe 107 degree radial inbound; but; keeping my traffic above the runway 27R traffic. Once the arrival for either runway reported the opposing traffic in sight; I applied visual separation between the two; verified that the runway was in sight and issued approach clearance information. I had one arrival who did not see the opposite traffic and had to be taken off the final for resequencing to another runway. During this time; supervisor X told me to take the traffic down to the same altitude as the traffic inbound to the adjacent runway. I told him that I was using vertical separation until he had the traffic in sight. After this session was over my manager sat me down and explained that I should take my traffic to the same altitude as the adjacent runway traffic and use lateral separation instead. I explained that I didn't want to bet on the come; hoping to use visual separation and that I prefer positive vertical separation. He said to use the mxe 107 degree radial and apply lateral separation instead. I am uncomfortable applying anything other than separation that is guaranteed to work. I spent the evening researching this subject and spoke to the training department the very next day who concurred with my judgement. I told supervisor Y about the conversation with the training office and he said that I could use vertical separation if I want. There are additional issues with this operation. No breakout procedures; no airspace for FV2 west of the so called breakout point. No procedures to ensure appropriate ATIS information is broadcast; no method to keep aircraft in the class B once they are vectored in it. Although shared responsibilities exist; there are no defined procedures being used between the sectors running this converging traffic.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PHL APCH CTLR REPORTED SUPVR CRITICISM FOR USING ALT VS. LATERAL SEPARATION DURING SAPR1 PROCS THAT RESULTED IN GAR.

Narrative: I WAS WORKING FV2 POS DURING SAPR1 OP. THERE ARE VERY FEW PROCS IN PLACE FOR THIS OP; RELYING MOSTLY ON STANDARD SEPARATION IN 7110.65 AND SHARED RESPONSIBILITIES BTWN FV1 AND FV2 FOR VISUAL SEPARATION APPLICATION. I WAS VECTORING MY ARRS TO RWY 27L; USING THE MXE 107 DEG RADIAL INBOUND; BUT; KEEPING MY TFC ABOVE THE RWY 27R TFC. ONCE THE ARR FOR EITHER RWY RPTED THE OPPOSING TFC IN SIGHT; I APPLIED VISUAL SEPARATION BTWN THE TWO; VERIFIED THAT THE RWY WAS IN SIGHT AND ISSUED APCH CLRNC INFO. I HAD ONE ARR WHO DID NOT SEE THE OPPOSITE TFC AND HAD TO BE TAKEN OFF THE FINAL FOR RESEQUENCING TO ANOTHER RWY. DURING THIS TIME; SUPVR X TOLD ME TO TAKE THE TFC DOWN TO THE SAME ALT AS THE TFC INBOUND TO THE ADJACENT RWY. I TOLD HIM THAT I WAS USING VERT SEPARATION UNTIL HE HAD THE TFC IN SIGHT. AFTER THIS SESSION WAS OVER MY MGR SAT ME DOWN AND EXPLAINED THAT I SHOULD TAKE MY TFC TO THE SAME ALT AS THE ADJACENT RWY TFC AND USE LATERAL SEPARATION INSTEAD. I EXPLAINED THAT I DIDN'T WANT TO BET ON THE COME; HOPING TO USE VISUAL SEPARATION AND THAT I PREFER POSITIVE VERT SEPARATION. HE SAID TO USE THE MXE 107 DEG RADIAL AND APPLY LATERAL SEPARATION INSTEAD. I AM UNCOMFORTABLE APPLYING ANYTHING OTHER THAN SEPARATION THAT IS GUARANTEED TO WORK. I SPENT THE EVENING RESEARCHING THIS SUBJECT AND SPOKE TO THE TRAINING DEPT THE VERY NEXT DAY WHO CONCURRED WITH MY JUDGEMENT. I TOLD SUPVR Y ABOUT THE CONVERSATION WITH THE TRAINING OFFICE AND HE SAID THAT I COULD USE VERT SEPARATION IF I WANT. THERE ARE ADDITIONAL ISSUES WITH THIS OP. NO BREAKOUT PROCS; NO AIRSPACE FOR FV2 W OF THE SO CALLED BREAKOUT POINT. NO PROCS TO ENSURE APPROPRIATE ATIS INFO IS BROADCAST; NO METHOD TO KEEP ACFT IN THE CLASS B ONCE THEY ARE VECTORED IN IT. ALTHOUGH SHARED RESPONSIBILITIES EXIST; THERE ARE NO DEFINED PROCS BEING USED BTWN THE SECTORS RUNNING THIS CONVERGING TFC.

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.