37000 Feet

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Prc controller working one of the two local control positions described an unsafe situation when straight in approaches were approved by the second local creating a conflict; reporter suggesting this facility practice was problematic.

Narrative:

I was working local 1 on our most complex runway 30. Training was going on at the local 2 feeder position. My downwind traffic had to extend for large volumes of arrivals and also had to climb for terrain. The local 2 feeder position asked for; and the previous controller had approved; straight-ins at or above 6;500 feet. The controller in charge alerted me and the local 2 trainer to the fact that I had aircraft X turning base to a five mile final at 6;500 and the local 2 feeder was talking to an aircraft approaching a five mile final at 6;500 that would be traffic for my aircraft. The local 2 controller was able to turn his straight in away from aircraft X to avoid a potential mid-air. Recommendation; it becomes almost automatic now at our facility to apreq a blanket approval for straight-in entries at or above 6;500 feet. We have so many people in training; with no experience or knowledge; that this practice adds complexity and reduces safety. Our trainers should teach the local 2 controllers to follow the standard operating procedures which require all aircraft to be sequenced to the 45 degree entry. The trainer at local 2 should have realized what was transpiring before the controller in charge alerted us to a problem. The trainer is a part time employee and I don't think he is as proficient as he should be and probably shouldn't be training.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PRC Controller working one of the two Local Control positions described an unsafe situation when straight in approaches were approved by the second Local creating a conflict; reporter suggesting this facility practice was problematic.

Narrative: I was working Local 1 on our most complex Runway 30. Training was going on at the Local 2 feeder position. My downwind traffic had to extend for large volumes of arrivals and also had to climb for terrain. The Local 2 feeder position asked for; and the previous controller had approved; straight-ins at or above 6;500 feet. The CIC alerted me and the Local 2 trainer to the fact that I had Aircraft X turning base to a five mile final at 6;500 and the local 2 feeder was talking to an aircraft approaching a five mile final at 6;500 that would be traffic for my aircraft. The Local 2 controller was able to turn his straight in away from Aircraft X to avoid a potential mid-air. Recommendation; it becomes almost automatic now at our facility to APREQ a blanket approval for straight-in entries at or above 6;500 feet. We have so many people in training; with no experience or knowledge; that this practice adds complexity and reduces safety. Our trainers should teach the Local 2 Controllers to follow the standard operating procedures which require all aircraft to be sequenced to the 45 degree entry. The Trainer at Local 2 should have realized what was transpiring before the CIC alerted us to a problem. The trainer is a part time employee and I don't think he is as proficient as he should be and probably shouldn't be training.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.