Hln controller voiced concern regarding new operational procedures alleging management failed to pro...

Attributes
ACN	809258
Time
Date	200809
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	airport : hln.airport
State Reference	MT
Aircraft 1
Flight Phase	ground : maintenance
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 22 controller time certified in position2 : 3
ASRS Report	809258
Events
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	FAA
Primary Problem	FAA
Situations
ATC Facility	procedure or policy : hln.tower

Narrative:

Helena ATCT is a combined non-radar approach control and tower. As such; the approach control relies on mia minimum instrument altitude; instrument approach procedures and SID's for determining IFR separation. The FAA introduced new minimum instrument altitudes; instrument approachs; LOA; SID's and local SOP's. This new material was presented with 2 hours of training. This amount of training time was grossly insufficient and arguably negligent. The ATC controllers had no time to become familiar with the new procedures. Immunity from operrors and opdevs was denied by local management. The current climate in FAA management is one of 'we know what's best.' this is counterproductive. In the case of hln ATCT; no input was solicited by local management from ATC controllers in regards to the new procedures; etc.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: HLN CONTROLLER VOICED CONCERN REGARDING NEW OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES ALLEGING MANAGEMENT FAILED TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE TRAINING OR SOLICIT ANY INPUT FORM THE CONTROLLER STAFF PRIOR TO IMPLEMENTATION.

Narrative: HELENA ATCT IS A COMBINED NON-RADAR APCH CTL AND TWR. AS SUCH; THE APCH CTL RELIES ON MIA MINIMUM INST ALT; INST APCH PROCS AND SID'S FOR DETERMINING IFR SEPARATION. THE FAA INTRODUCED NEW MINIMUM INST ALTS; INST APCHS; LOA; SID'S AND LOCAL SOP'S. THIS NEW MATERIAL WAS PRESENTED WITH 2 HRS OF TRAINING. THIS AMOUNT OF TRAINING TIME WAS GROSSLY INSUFFICIENT AND ARGUABLY NEGLIGENT. THE ATC CTLRS HAD NO TIME TO BECOME FAMILIAR WITH THE NEW PROCS. IMMUNITY FROM OPERRORS AND OPDEVS WAS DENIED BY LOCAL MGMNT. THE CURRENT CLIMATE IN FAA MGMNT IS ONE OF 'WE KNOW WHAT'S BEST.' THIS IS COUNTERPRODUCTIVE. IN THE CASE OF HLN ATCT; NO INPUT WAS SOLICITED BY LOCAL MGMNT FROM ATC CTLRS IN REGARDS TO THE NEW PROCS; ETC.

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.

Hln controller voiced concern regarding new operational procedures alleging management failed to provide adequate training or solicit any input form the controller staff prior to implementation.