Narrative:

Weather was marginal so abi was doing localizer approaches to 17R; 17L is closed for construction. I was controller in charge; traffic was very light. The local controller; had aircraft X on a 3-4 mile final 17R cleared to land and aircraft Y calling off 82TS; a private field 2NM northeast of abi; requesting touch and goes. The controller's response to aircraft Y was this; 'make ah...enter a left field...mid ah...left mid downwind for the left ah...downwind'. Controller is not looking out the window and not watching the traffic; aircraft Y turns west for a base to 17R and I had to tell the controller that aircraft Y is cutting off aircraft X. She turns around and now sees the situation and turns aircraft Y right to heading 360; right toward the traffic. Aircraft Y immediately reports the traffic on final in sight and request a clearance for a localizer approach instead of VFR pattern work. Even though separation was not lost and only because I brought it to her attention (1 mile at best); this was an unsafe situation brought on by the local controller's lack of attention; awareness and knowledge. These kind of situations are occurring on a daily basis. Management is being made aware; but the unsafe events continue. Remedial training on maintaining awareness while on position; on how to sequence aircraft and how not to; and/or proper phraseology to avoid confusing instructions.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ABI Local Controller almost had a separation loss due to not paying attention.

Narrative: Weather was marginal so ABI was doing Localizer approaches to 17R; 17L is closed for construction. I was CIC; traffic was very light. The local controller; had Aircraft X on a 3-4 mile final 17R cleared to land and Aircraft Y calling off 82TS; a private field 2NM NE of ABI; requesting touch and goes. The controller's response to Aircraft Y was this; 'Make ah...enter a left field...mid ah...left mid downwind for the left ah...downwind'. Controller is not looking out the window and not watching the traffic; Aircraft Y turns west for a base to 17R and I had to tell the controller that Aircraft Y is cutting off Aircraft X. She turns around and now sees the situation and turns Aircraft Y right to heading 360; right toward the traffic. Aircraft Y immediately reports the traffic on final in sight and request a clearance for a Localizer approach instead of VFR pattern work. Even though separation was not lost and only because I brought it to her attention (1 mile at best); this was an unsafe situation brought on by the local controller's lack of attention; awareness and knowledge. These kind of situations are occurring on a daily basis. Management is being made aware; but the unsafe events continue. Remedial training on maintaining awareness while on position; on how to sequence aircraft and how not to; and/or proper phraseology to avoid confusing instructions.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.