Narrative:

Runway 27 had been 'released to ground;' indicating to everyone who had received this verbal message; that there would be no arrivals or departures using runway 27. This message was further communicated via the stars system data area and the stars workstation notes. However; the ATIS and 'ribbon display' were not changed to reflect the status of runway 27. The status of runway 27 is repeatedly in question at mem. There are so many areas where the status is posted; and none of these areas are ever current. When runway 27 is 'released to ground control;' the following coordination actions should take place: 1) the TRACON and tower supervisors should coordinate the last aircraft to use runway 27; 2) the TRACON and tower supervisors should coordinate the exact time that runway 27 will be released to ground control; 3) the tower supervisor should inform everyone in the tower cabin attendant of what is about to happen; 4) the tower supervisor should place the 'runway 27 rlsd to ground control' strip at all control positions; 5) the asde/amass equipment should be modified to indicate runway 27 'closed;' 6) the itws should be modified to show which runways are actually in use; 7) the 'ribbon displays' should be changed to show runway 27 closed or not in use; 8) the ATIS should be modified to indicate that runway 27 is not in use and 9) memphis center should be notified of our new runway configuration so that they may adjust our flow rate if necessary. It is a rare day when all of these coordination actions take place. As a matter of fact; I am unable to recall a recent day at work when all of these coordination events actually took place in a timely manner. Memphis FAA management refuses to put any of these coordinations in writing; but 'informs' our supervisors what is 'expected' when runway 27 is 'released to ground control.'

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MEM CTLR RPTS RWY 27 COORDINATION PROCS ARE INADEQUATE.

Narrative: RWY 27 HAD BEEN 'RELEASED TO GROUND;' INDICATING TO EVERYONE WHO HAD RECEIVED THIS VERBAL MESSAGE; THAT THERE WOULD BE NO ARRIVALS OR DEPARTURES USING RWY 27. THIS MESSAGE WAS FURTHER COMMUNICATED VIA THE STARS SYSTEM DATA AREA AND THE STARS WORKSTATION NOTES. HOWEVER; THE ATIS AND 'RIBBON DISPLAY' WERE NOT CHANGED TO REFLECT THE STATUS OF RWY 27. THE STATUS OF RWY 27 IS REPEATEDLY IN QUESTION AT MEM. THERE ARE SO MANY AREAS WHERE THE STATUS IS POSTED; AND NONE OF THESE AREAS ARE EVER CURRENT. WHEN RWY 27 IS 'RELEASED TO GROUND CONTROL;' THE FOLLOWING COORDINATION ACTIONS SHOULD TAKE PLACE: 1) THE TRACON AND TOWER SUPERVISORS SHOULD COORDINATE THE LAST AIRCRAFT TO USE RWY 27; 2) THE TRACON AND TOWER SUPERVISORS SHOULD COORDINATE THE EXACT TIME THAT RWY 27 WILL BE RELEASED TO GROUND CONTROL; 3) THE TOWER SUPERVISOR SHOULD INFORM EVERYONE IN THE TOWER CAB OF WHAT IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN; 4) THE TOWER SUPERVISOR SHOULD PLACE THE 'RWY 27 RLSD TO GROUND CONTROL' STRIP AT ALL CONTROL POSITIONS; 5) THE ASDE/AMASS EQUIPMENT SHOULD BE MODIFIED TO INDICATE RWY 27 'CLOSED;' 6) THE ITWS SHOULD BE MODIFIED TO SHOW WHICH RUNWAYS ARE ACTUALLY IN USE; 7) THE 'RIBBON DISPLAYS' SHOULD BE CHANGED TO SHOW RWY 27 CLOSED OR NOT IN USE; 8) THE ATIS SHOULD BE MODIFIED TO INDICATE THAT RWY 27 IS NOT IN USE AND 9) MEMPHIS CENTER SHOULD BE NOTIFIED OF OUR NEW RUNWAY CONFIGURATION SO THAT THEY MAY ADJUST OUR FLOW RATE IF NECESSARY. IT IS A RARE DAY WHEN ALL OF THESE COORDINATION ACTIONS TAKE PLACE. AS A MATTER OF FACT; I AM UNABLE TO RECALL A RECENT DAY AT WORK WHEN ALL OF THESE COORDINATION EVENTS ACTUALLY TOOK PLACE IN A TIMELY MANNER. MEMPHIS FAA MANAGEMENT REFUSES TO PUT ANY OF THESE COORDINATIONS IN WRITING; BUT 'INFORMS' OUR SUPERVISORS WHAT IS 'EXPECTED' WHEN RWY 27 IS 'RELEASED TO GROUND CONTROL.'

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.