Narrative:

Aircraft #2 at 7000 ft reported aircraft #1 (at 8000 ft) in sight. Aircraft #2 was sequenced #2 to follow aircraft #1 and cleared for a visual approach. On apr/wed/00 I was briefed on genot rwa 9/55, re, visual separation. This genot required training on visual separation and visual approachs to be completed by dec/xa/99. It said training was not completed, the controller was not to use visual separation until he or she completed the refresher training. In the 3 1/2 months before receiving this mandatory refresher training I had utilized visual separation on numerous occasions, not realizing I was no longer qualified to do so. The occurrence described above is just the most memorable, probably because it occurred 25 mi out and when the aircraft were 12 mi apart. As of apr/wed/00, 5 other controllers have not received this training nor have they been instructed to stop using visual separation. This situation highlights the inability of FAA management at avp to provide required training in a timely manner. Throughout 1999, management at avp tower has failed to provide required training as per the local training order. FAA management has to begin to take training seriously and hold local facility mgrs responsible for their actions (or inactions). Negligence in providing controller training should not be excused.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AVP CTLR CONCERNED WITH AVP MGMNT NON COMPLIANCE OF GENOT TRAINING REQUIREMENT.

Narrative: ACFT #2 AT 7000 FT RPTED ACFT #1 (AT 8000 FT) IN SIGHT. ACFT #2 WAS SEQUENCED #2 TO FOLLOW ACFT #1 AND CLRED FOR A VISUAL APCH. ON APR/WED/00 I WAS BRIEFED ON GENOT RWA 9/55, RE, VISUAL SEPARATION. THIS GENOT REQUIRED TRAINING ON VISUAL SEPARATION AND VISUAL APCHS TO BE COMPLETED BY DEC/XA/99. IT SAID TRAINING WAS NOT COMPLETED, THE CTLR WAS NOT TO USE VISUAL SEPARATION UNTIL HE OR SHE COMPLETED THE REFRESHER TRAINING. IN THE 3 1/2 MONTHS BEFORE RECEIVING THIS MANDATORY REFRESHER TRAINING I HAD UTILIZED VISUAL SEPARATION ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, NOT REALIZING I WAS NO LONGER QUALIFIED TO DO SO. THE OCCURRENCE DESCRIBED ABOVE IS JUST THE MOST MEMORABLE, PROBABLY BECAUSE IT OCCURRED 25 MI OUT AND WHEN THE ACFT WERE 12 MI APART. AS OF APR/WED/00, 5 OTHER CTLRS HAVE NOT RECEIVED THIS TRAINING NOR HAVE THEY BEEN INSTRUCTED TO STOP USING VISUAL SEPARATION. THIS SIT HIGHLIGHTS THE INABILITY OF FAA MGMNT AT AVP TO PROVIDE REQUIRED TRAINING IN A TIMELY MANNER. THROUGHOUT 1999, MGMNT AT AVP TWR HAS FAILED TO PROVIDE REQUIRED TRAINING AS PER THE LCL TRAINING ORDER. FAA MGMNT HAS TO BEGIN TO TAKE TRAINING SERIOUSLY AND HOLD LCL FACILITY MGRS RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS (OR INACTIONS). NEGLIGENCE IN PROVIDING CTLR TRAINING SHOULD NOT BE EXCUSED.

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.