Narrative:

This is a recurring problem which has been documented and reported numerous times. The local controller at phx tower is authority/authorized by LOA to issue a divergent (other than runway heading) heading to turboprop departures, in order to allow faster turbojet traffic to depart with less delay. Procedures are specifically intended, through the LOA, to preclude the turboprop's entry into adjacent airspace. The local controllers at phx routinely climb the turboprops into overlying airspace without coordination. Unfortunately, this overlying airspace is a class B VFR corridor which may contain VFR aircraft at 3500 ft, 4000 ft, 4500 ft, etc. This corridor is also used for IFR aircraft at 4000 ft. This is more than just an inconvenience, it is a safety issue. The local facility management has been informed of this situation several times and to this date has taken no action. A simple remedy would be to cancel the divergent headings, but that creates unnecessary delays. Realistically, the controllers at phx tower need to be reminded, re-educated, and individually responsible for compliance. FAA management needs to be held accountable to insure the situation is resolved. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter indicated that the problem has been resolved and that the tower is now coordinating with the appropriate position prior to issuing aircraft headings which will enter that sector's airspace.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: RPTR CLAIMS THE LCL CTLR IS RELEASING ACFT INTO AN ADJACENT AIRSPACE APPARENTLY IN CONFLICT WITH THE TWR TRACON LOA.

Narrative: THIS IS A RECURRING PROB WHICH HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED AND RPTED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE LCL CTLR AT PHX TWR IS AUTH BY LOA TO ISSUE A DIVERGENT (OTHER THAN RWY HDG) HDG TO TURBOPROP DEPS, IN ORDER TO ALLOW FASTER TURBOJET TFC TO DEPART WITH LESS DELAY. PROCS ARE SPECIFICALLY INTENDED, THROUGH THE LOA, TO PRECLUDE THE TURBOPROP'S ENTRY INTO ADJACENT AIRSPACE. THE LCL CTLRS AT PHX ROUTINELY CLB THE TURBOPROPS INTO OVERLYING AIRSPACE WITHOUT COORD. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS OVERLYING AIRSPACE IS A CLASS B VFR CORRIDOR WHICH MAY CONTAIN VFR ACFT AT 3500 FT, 4000 FT, 4500 FT, ETC. THIS CORRIDOR IS ALSO USED FOR IFR ACFT AT 4000 FT. THIS IS MORE THAN JUST AN INCONVENIENCE, IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE LCL FACILITY MGMNT HAS BEEN INFORMED OF THIS SIT SEVERAL TIMES AND TO THIS DATE HAS TAKEN NO ACTION. A SIMPLE REMEDY WOULD BE TO CANCEL THE DIVERGENT HDGS, BUT THAT CREATES UNNECESSARY DELAYS. REALISTICALLY, THE CTLRS AT PHX TWR NEED TO BE REMINDED, RE-EDUCATED, AND INDIVIDUALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR COMPLIANCE. FAA MGMNT NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO INSURE THE SIT IS RESOLVED. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR INDICATED THAT THE PROB HAS BEEN RESOLVED AND THAT THE TWR IS NOW COORDINATING WITH THE APPROPRIATE POS PRIOR TO ISSUING ACFT HDGS WHICH WILL ENTER THAT SECTOR'S AIRSPACE.

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.