Narrative:

I was working ground control/flight data/clearance delivery positions combined. This is the normal configuration for these positions. The racd for this position had a fault warning light for the last couple of days. The af technician was replacing the racd. The developmental I had relieved pre-marked the strip with non-standard strip marking. The aircraft called for the clearance to ZZZ. I read the route as; 'cleared to ZZZ as filed.' the aircraft filed direct ZZZ. I did not observe the pdr on the strip. As the aircraft was reading back the clearance; a developmental and his trainer plugged into the position to begin training. The aircraft read back the clearance as issued. The aircraft request to taxi immediately. I issued taxi instructions to runway xxl. The aircraft requested runway xxr. I issued taxi instructions to runway xxr. I immediately called traffic management unit (tmu) because the aircraft needed a flow time for ZZZ. I passed the strip to local control (local control) and gave the relief briefing. The aircraft had departed. The aircraft may or may not have entered the restricted airspace; I do not know. Recommendation; maintenance on a position should be accomplished when the facility is closed or the position is combined with another position. The racd is in the center of the position. It was difficult working around the technician. Strips should not be pre-marked. The strip should be marked as the clearance is being issued. When a strip is marked it should be with standard markings outlined in the SOP. Personal strip marking techniques; such as underlining every fix within a pdr; should be prohibited.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Tower Controller described a confused routing coordination event with the Center; claiming maintenance work on the RACD introduced unneeded distractions.

Narrative: I was working Ground Control/Flight Data/Clearance Delivery positions combined. This is the normal configuration for these positions. The RACD for this position had a fault warning light for the last couple of days. The AF Technician was replacing the RACD. The Developmental I had relieved pre-marked the strip with non-standard strip marking. The aircraft called for the clearance to ZZZ. I read the route as; 'Cleared to ZZZ as filed.' The aircraft filed direct ZZZ. I did not observe the PDR on the strip. As the aircraft was reading back the clearance; a Developmental and his trainer plugged into the position to begin training. The aircraft read back the clearance as issued. The aircraft request to taxi immediately. I issued taxi instructions to Runway XXL. The aircraft requested Runway XXR. I issued taxi instructions to Runway XXR. I immediately called Traffic Management Unit (TMU) because the aircraft needed a flow time for ZZZ. I passed the strip to Local Control (LC) and gave the relief briefing. The aircraft had departed. The aircraft may or may not have entered the restricted airspace; I do not know. Recommendation; maintenance on a position should be accomplished when the facility is closed or the position is combined with another position. The RACD is in the center of the position. It was difficult working around the Technician. Strips should not be pre-marked. The strip should be marked as the clearance is being issued. When a strip is marked it should be with standard markings outlined in the SOP. Personal strip marking techniques; such as underlining every fix within a PDR; should be prohibited.

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.