Approach controller claims that a recent change to FAA handbook 7110.65 requiring that approach cont...

Attributes
ACN	709149
Time
Date	200609
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : pct.artcc
State Reference	VA
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller limited radar : 4 controller non radar : 4 controller radar : 10 controller time certified in position1 : 2
ASRS Report	709149
Events
Independent Detector	other controllera atc equipment : msaw
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	FAA
Primary Problem	FAA
Situations
ATC Facility	procedure or policy : pct.artcc

Narrative:

The FAA issued a genot (attached) requiring approach controllers to advise remote control towers of all low altitude alerts in all situations; removing the option of using best judgement to determine the validity of the alert. This advisory is required even when the control tower has the capability of issuing a low altitude alert on their own. While on the surface this might seem like a good idea; in almost all occurrences; it only increases an already high workload and compromises safety by unnecessarily distracting both the radar and local controllers from separation and safety duties for other aircraft. While there might be value in such an advisory when an aircraft is on an instrument approach; the notification requirement is an unnecessary burden when the pilot has reported the airport in sight and has been cleared for a visual approach; especially in VFR conditions. The procedures required by the genot compromise safety. Although there is value in the procedure; it needs to be refined to allow flexibility in its application.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: APCH CTLR CLAIMS THAT A RECENT CHANGE TO FAA HANDBOOK 7110.65 REQUIRING THAT APCH CTLRS NOTIFY REMOTE TWRS WHENEVER AN MSAW ALERT OCCURS INCREASES THE CTLR'S WORKLOAD.

Narrative: THE FAA ISSUED A GENOT (ATTACHED) REQUIRING APCH CTLRS TO ADVISE REMOTE CTL TWRS OF ALL LOW ALT ALERTS IN ALL SITUATIONS; REMOVING THE OPTION OF USING BEST JUDGEMENT TO DETERMINE THE VALIDITY OF THE ALERT. THIS ADVISORY IS REQUIRED EVEN WHEN THE CTL TWR HAS THE CAPABILITY OF ISSUING A LOW ALT ALERT ON THEIR OWN. WHILE ON THE SURFACE THIS MIGHT SEEM LIKE A GOOD IDEA; IN ALMOST ALL OCCURRENCES; IT ONLY INCREASES AN ALREADY HIGH WORKLOAD AND COMPROMISES SAFETY BY UNNECESSARILY DISTRACTING BOTH THE RADAR AND LCL CTLRS FROM SEPARATION AND SAFETY DUTIES FOR OTHER ACFT. WHILE THERE MIGHT BE VALUE IN SUCH AN ADVISORY WHEN AN ACFT IS ON AN INST APCH; THE NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENT IS AN UNNECESSARY BURDEN WHEN THE PLT HAS RPTED THE ARPT IN SIGHT AND HAS BEEN CLRED FOR A VISUAL APCH; ESPECIALLY IN VFR CONDITIONS. THE PROCS REQUIRED BY THE GENOT COMPROMISE SAFETY. ALTHOUGH THERE IS VALUE IN THE PROC; IT NEEDS TO BE REFINED TO ALLOW FLEXIBILITY IN ITS APPLICATION.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.

Approach controller claims that a recent change to FAA handbook 7110.65 requiring that approach controllers notify remote towers whenever an MSAW alert occurs increases the controller's workload.