Narrative:

I was providing OJT to a high hour developmental on radar east position with all radar positions combined. A PC12 was on a RNAV approach to runway 4L. A T34 was an overflight receiving VFR flight following at 2;500 west south westbound. There was an additional navy aircraft in the very near vicinity to the T34; traveling the same direction as the T34 at 3;500 ft VFR. The developmental led me to believe that he recognized the conflict with the two navy aircraft because he issued a restriction to the PC12 to cross the initial approach fix (bitac) at 3;000 ft. This altitude would place the PC12 500 ft separated between the two navy aircraft. Apparently the developmental did not realize that once the PC12 crossed bitac; he would descend to 1;900 ft (through the altitude of the T34) to meet the restriction of 1;900 ft by the final approach fix (gocet). Once the PC12 was inside bitac; the developmental assigned 3;000 ft; but realizing the PC12 had already descended through 3;000 ft; he assigned 2;800 ft and issued traffic to the PC12 for VFR the T34. The pilot questioned what the T34 was doing. The developmental advised he was a VFR overflight at 2;500 ft. I then prompted the developmental to take additional action. The developmental then issued traffic to the T34 for the PC12. The pilot of the T34 advised of the traffic in sight and it appeared the T34 turned left and went behind the PC12. The aircraft continued without further issues. The developmental is close to his maximum hours; and because he has had training issues that I won't go into here; I felt I was in a position that I had to let the developmental to go to a point to see how he would resolve the situation. Ojti's need to be reminded that they should intervene as soon as he/she sees that a developmental is not taking appropriate control actions to resolve a situation. We as instructors often have developmentals that complain and get argumentative that we intervene too soon and don't let the developmental show that they are taking proper control actions; but developmentals need to be briefed or advised that the ultimate safety of the position is the responsibility of the ojti. Also; developmentals must understand that; by the time we take the position over; the situation has already reached the point that safety will be compromised if the ojti does not intervene.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A BTR Controller providing OJT described a developing conflict event between an aircraft on approach and a VFR overflight; noting the ever present instruction conflict of when to intercede during a training session.

Narrative: I was providing OJT to a high hour Developmental on RADAR East position with all RADAR positions combined. A PC12 was on a RNAV approach to Runway 4L. A T34 was an overflight receiving VFR Flight Following at 2;500 west south westbound. There was an additional Navy aircraft in the very near vicinity to the T34; traveling the same direction as the T34 at 3;500 FT VFR. The Developmental led me to believe that he recognized the conflict with the two Navy aircraft because he issued a restriction to the PC12 to cross the initial approach fix (BITAC) at 3;000 FT. This altitude would place the PC12 500 FT separated between the two Navy aircraft. Apparently the Developmental did not realize that once the PC12 crossed BITAC; he would descend to 1;900 FT (through the altitude of the T34) to meet the restriction of 1;900 FT by the final approach fix (GOCET). Once the PC12 was inside BITAC; the Developmental assigned 3;000 FT; but realizing the PC12 had already descended through 3;000 FT; he assigned 2;800 FT and issued traffic to the PC12 for VFR the T34. The pilot questioned what the T34 was doing. The Developmental advised he was a VFR overflight at 2;500 FT. I then prompted the developmental to take additional action. The Developmental then issued traffic to the T34 for the PC12. The pilot of the T34 advised of the traffic in sight and it appeared the T34 turned left and went behind the PC12. The aircraft continued without further issues. The Developmental is close to his maximum hours; and because he has had training issues that I won't go into here; I felt I was in a position that I had to let the Developmental to go to a point to see how he would resolve the situation. OJTI's need to be reminded that they should intervene as soon as he/she sees that a Developmental is not taking appropriate control actions to resolve a situation. We as Instructors often have Developmentals that complain and get argumentative that we intervene too soon and don't let the Developmental show that they are taking proper control actions; but Developmentals need to be briefed or advised that the ultimate safety of the position is the responsibility of the OJTI. Also; Developmentals must understand that; by the time we take the position over; the situation has already reached the point that safety will be compromised if the OJTI does not intervene.

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.