Mia local controller described relief briefing event when supervisor controller inappropriately turn...

Attributes
ACN	794705
Time
Date	200807
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mia.airport
State Reference	FL
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Weather Elements	Fog
Light	Daylight
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Experience	controller military : 7 controller radar : 19 controller supervisory : 1
ASRS Report	794705
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local oversight : supervisor
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

While working the local control position; I had adjusted the approach lighting system to step 2 as directed by faao 7110.65. There was a level of ground fog present reducing ground visibility to 4 SM reported by the official WX service. Tower visibility was unrestr (tower ht is over 300 ft). The supervisor reported to the tower and without receiving a relief briefing; turned off the approach lighting system. When I mentioned to him that we had a rptable visibility valve and those lights need to be on; he refused to set the lights to the appropriate setting and left them off. The fact that the supervisor was making equipment adjustments without being in charge of the tower or receiving a proper briefing is unacceptable. The supervisor negligently placed aircraft in an unsafe situation. Recommendation: this supervisor needs to be trained on proper light setting. All personnel should be prohibited from making adjustments until they have been properly briefed on the operation and assumed responsibility of the area.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MIA LCL CTLR DESCRIBED RELIEF BRIEFING EVENT WHEN SUPVR CTLR INAPPROPRIATELY TURNED OFF APCH LIGHTS BEFORE BRIEFING WAS COMPLETED.

Narrative: WHILE WORKING THE LCL CTL POS; I HAD ADJUSTED THE APCH LIGHTING SYS TO STEP 2 AS DIRECTED BY FAAO 7110.65. THERE WAS A LEVEL OF GND FOG PRESENT REDUCING GND VISIBILITY TO 4 SM RPTED BY THE OFFICIAL WX SVC. TWR VISIBILITY WAS UNRESTR (TWR HT IS OVER 300 FT). THE SUPVR RPTED TO THE TWR AND WITHOUT RECEIVING A RELIEF BRIEFING; TURNED OFF THE APCH LIGHTING SYS. WHEN I MENTIONED TO HIM THAT WE HAD A RPTABLE VISIBILITY VALVE AND THOSE LIGHTS NEED TO BE ON; HE REFUSED TO SET THE LIGHTS TO THE APPROPRIATE SETTING AND LEFT THEM OFF. THE FACT THAT THE SUPVR WAS MAKING EQUIP ADJUSTMENTS WITHOUT BEING IN CHARGE OF THE TWR OR RECEIVING A PROPER BRIEFING IS UNACCEPTABLE. THE SUPVR NEGLIGENTLY PLACED ACFT IN AN UNSAFE SITUATION. RECOMMENDATION: THIS SUPVR NEEDS TO BE TRAINED ON PROPER LIGHT SETTING. ALL PERSONNEL SHOULD BE PROHIBITED FROM MAKING ADJUSTMENTS UNTIL THEY HAVE BEEN PROPERLY BRIEFED ON THE OP AND ASSUMED RESPONSIBILITY OF THE AREA.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 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.

Mia local controller described relief briefing event when supervisor controller inappropriately turned off approach lights before briefing was completed.