A btr controller witnessed an SOP violation when a supervisor working position failed to follow loca...

Narrative:

Aircraft X was inbound on visual approach to runway 13 from the southwest. A PC12 was cleared for takeoff from runway 31 with a turn to 360. Aircraft X intercepted the final at four miles and was told that traffic was taking runway 31 for departure. Our local SOP states that opposite direction departures must be airborne and established in a turn prior to the inbound aircraft being established on a five mile final. The SOP specifically states that visual may not be used. When it became apparent that this was going to be very close; I expected the PC12 to be turned further to the east so they would have had more room between them; but I just heard the flm (flight line manager) switch the aircraft to departure. At no time did I ever hear him say that he had both the aircraft in sight on the frequency; nor do anything to comply with the SOP; nor try to take any action that would have made it less close. We should not let supervisors who have had no previous tower experience check out at minimum qualification times. They need to be more knowledgeable about the rules because they are certifying officials.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A BTR controller witnessed an SOP violation when a supervisor working position failed to follow local procedures during an opposite direction operation.

Narrative: Aircraft X was inbound on visual approach to Runway 13 from the Southwest. A PC12 was cleared for takeoff from Runway 31 with a turn to 360. Aircraft X intercepted the final at four miles and was told that traffic was taking Runway 31 for departure. Our local SOP states that opposite direction departures must be airborne and established in a turn prior to the inbound aircraft being established on a five mile final. The SOP specifically states that visual may not be used. When it became apparent that this was going to be very close; I expected the PC12 to be turned further to the East so they would have had more room between them; but I just heard the FLM (Flight Line Manager) switch the aircraft to departure. At no time did I ever hear him say that he had both the aircraft in sight on the frequency; nor do anything to comply with the SOP; nor try to take any action that would have made it less close. We should not let Supervisors who have had no previous Tower experience check out at minimum qualification times. They need to be more knowledgeable about the rules because they are certifying officials.

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	879756
Time
Date	201003
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	BTR.Tower
State Reference	LA
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Baron 55/Cochise
Flight Phase	Final Approach
Route In Use	Visual Approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Flight Data / Clearance Delivery Local
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Conflict Airborne Conflict Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

A btr controller witnessed an SOP violation when a supervisor working position failed to follow local procedures during an opposite direction operation.