Lack of training on operation of new tower equipment.

Attributes
ACN	218280
Time
Date	199207
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : dal
State Reference	TX
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller non radar : 7 controller radar : 4
ASRS Report	218280
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
ATC Facility	other physical facility

Narrative:

I work at dal where we just moved into a new tower. The situation I am reporting is the lack of training all controllers received on the new equipment. The new tower is equipped with icss, d-brite, a different model ATIS, new tapes, saids, among others (none of which we had in the old tower). I personally was briefed (not trained) on the icss and saids for about 30 mins, 3 months before we moved. Many of my co-workers have expressed concern that they're too distracted (while working traffic) by trying to familiarize themselves with the equipment. I feel the same. The potential for losing standard separation in highly increased. I would like to see some kind of useful training on this equipment which should be so familiar to us that it is second nature.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LACK OF TRAINING ON OP OF NEW TWR EQUIP.

Narrative: I WORK AT DAL WHERE WE JUST MOVED INTO A NEW TWR. THE SITUATION I AM RPTING IS THE LACK OF TRAINING ALL CTLRS RECEIVED ON THE NEW EQUIP. THE NEW TWR IS EQUIPPED WITH ICSS, D-BRITE, A DIFFERENT MODEL ATIS, NEW TAPES, SAIDS, AMONG OTHERS (NONE OF WHICH WE HAD IN THE OLD TWR). I PERSONALLY WAS BRIEFED (NOT TRAINED) ON THE ICSS AND SAIDS FOR ABOUT 30 MINS, 3 MONTHS BEFORE WE MOVED. MANY OF MY CO-WORKERS HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT THEY'RE TOO DISTRACTED (WHILE WORKING TFC) BY TRYING TO FAMILIARIZE THEMSELVES WITH THE EQUIP. I FEEL THE SAME. THE POTENTIAL FOR LOSING STANDARD SEPARATION IN HIGHLY INCREASED. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME KIND OF USEFUL TRAINING ON THIS EQUIP WHICH SHOULD BE SO FAMILIAR TO US THAT IT IS SECOND NATURE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.