Nct controller described a descent below MVA when an arrival on the JAWWS2 STAR was at 3;000 in lieu...

Narrative:

On-the-job training was being administered by myself on licke/hooks when the flm on duty queried the cpc-in-training (cpc-it) about the altitude of an air carrier on the jawws 2 arrival to sjc. The aircraft was between gilro intersection and wvi airport and the data block indicated 030. The cpc-it queried the pilot and the pilot confirmed he was at 030. The aircraft was westbound leaving a 040 MVA; entering a 045 MVA. The cpc-it told the pilot to continue on his westbound heading and climbed him to 060 for the MVA. Normally; licke receives jets on the jawws 2 arrival at or descending to 080; so when the aircraft checked in on frequency; neither me nor the cpc-it caught the aircraft reporting his descent to 030. The cpc-it issued the current sjc altimeter and went back to sequencing the sjc arrivals closer to sjc. Recommendation; as a trainer; I should have caught the incorrect altitude when the air carrier checked in on licke frequency. The cpc-it is progressing well with his/her training; so I was more focused on his sequencing techniques than what the aircraft stated when he checked in.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: NCT Controller described a descent below MVA when an arrival on the JAWWS2 STAR was at 3;000 in lieu of the standard 8;000; the Supervisor caught the error and the aircraft was issued a climb clearance.

Narrative: On-the-job training was being administered by myself on Licke/Hooks when the FLM on duty queried the CPC-in-training (CPC-IT) about the altitude of an air carrier on the JAWWS 2 arrival to SJC. The aircraft was between GILRO Intersection and WVI airport and the data block indicated 030. The CPC-IT queried the pilot and the pilot confirmed he was at 030. The aircraft was westbound leaving a 040 MVA; entering a 045 MVA. The CPC-IT told the pilot to continue on his westbound heading and climbed him to 060 for the MVA. Normally; Licke receives jets on the JAWWS 2 arrival at or descending to 080; so when the aircraft checked in on frequency; neither me nor the CPC-IT caught the aircraft reporting his descent to 030. The CPC-IT issued the current SJC altimeter and went back to sequencing the SJC arrivals closer to SJC. Recommendation; as a trainer; I should have caught the incorrect altitude when the air carrier checked in on Licke frequency. The CPC-IT is progressing well with his/her training; so I was more focused on his sequencing techniques than what the aircraft stated when he checked in.

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.

Attributes
ACN	869991
Time
Date	201001
Local Time Of Day	0001-0600
Place
Locale Reference	NCT.TRACON
State Reference	CA
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Initial Approach
Route In Use	STAR Jawws2
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Instructor Approach
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Airspace Violation All Types Deviation - Altitude Overshoot Deviation - Procedural Clearance Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT

Nct controller described a descent below MVA when an arrival on the JAWWS2 STAR was at 3;000 in lieu of the standard 8;000; the supervisor caught the error and the aircraft was issued a climb clearance.