Narrative:

OJT was in progress and we were working a busy final session. Our attention was primarily focused 20 miles north of the airport because that is where it was busiest at the time and we didn't have any down winds. I did not see the departure at all until the A320 said he was getting a TCAS/RA. At that time I looked at him to see what his traffic was; and it was only then that I saw the E145's limited data block. I immediately looked at the altitudes to see if there was anything I could do; but by then the E145 was already 6 to 800 ft above the A320 and the interval was increasing. The A320 continued his approach and landed. I couldn't tell any action that he took to the RA. We should always keep up our scan. One thing I think that contributed to me not seeing the departure personally was that I was watching from slightly behind and off to the side of my trainee. My trainee sets his scope up quite a bit differently than I would. He doesn't use as much contrast as I do between full data blocks and limited data blocks. He also has his digital map quite a bit brighter. All these items make me have to work harder to see what I need to see. He would adjust it more to my liking if I asked him to; but I try to work how he is comfortable; if I am able. We are told to always use the same scope as the trainee so we always see the same thing; however; I move to my own scope while training; whenever I have the opportunity. Being able to set up my own scope my own way is very advantageous to me.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TRACON Controller described a loss of separation event when failing to note the conflict aircraft in time to prevent the occurrence. The reporter indicated that the Developmental's RADAR display set-up contributed to the error.

Narrative: OJT was in progress and we were working a busy final session. Our attention was primarily focused 20 miles north of the airport because that is where it was busiest at the time and we didn't have any down winds. I did not see the departure at all until the A320 said he was getting a TCAS/RA. At that time I looked at him to see what his traffic was; and it was only then that I saw the E145's limited Data Block. I immediately looked at the altitudes to see if there was anything I could do; but by then the E145 was already 6 to 800 FT above the A320 and the interval was increasing. The A320 continued his approach and landed. I couldn't tell any action that he took to the RA. We should always keep up our scan. One thing I think that contributed to me not seeing the departure personally was that I was watching from slightly behind and off to the side of my trainee. My trainee sets his scope up quite a bit differently than I would. He doesn't use as much contrast as I do between full Data Blocks and limited Data Blocks. He also has his digital map quite a bit brighter. All these items make me have to work harder to see what I need to see. He would adjust it more to my liking if I asked him to; but I try to work how he is comfortable; if I am able. We are told to always use the same scope as the trainee so we always see the same thing; however; I move to my own scope while training; whenever I have the opportunity. Being able to set up my own scope my own way is very advantageous to me.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 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.