 |
37000 Feet | Browse and search NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System |
|
Tlh controller voiced concern regarding FSS operations which include aircraft delays; increased ATC workload; all occurring since FSS contracted functions.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 766550 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200712 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : tlh.tracon |
| State Reference | FL |
| Environment | |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tower : zzz.tower |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : approach |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Experience | controller limited radar : 5 controller non radar : 12 controller radar : 12 |
| ASRS Report | 76650 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : anomaly accepted |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | FAA |
| Primary Problem | FAA |
Narrative:
There were 4 aircraft unnecessarily delayed into bge airport. The reason for these delays are directly related to the contracting out the FSS. Coordination is a nightmare at best. We are experiencing extensive delays with arrival times and cancellations. These unnecessary delays are passed along to the pilots. There is no continuity with the FSS specialists. When we call FSS (ATC also experiences delays when attempting to contact FSS); it appears to be a 'crapshoot' to which FSS we actually contact. This presents a number of problems: the specialist not being familiar with the associated airspace; ATC clrncs relayed improperly; clrncs filed wrong; etc. This creates additional workloads and distrs for ATC while attempting to correct these mistakes. Just recently; an improperly relayed ATC clearance resulted in an airspace violation. In some instances; pilots have resorted to calling the ATC facility directly (on the unrecorded landline) for clrncs; rertes and cancellations to avoid any contact with FSS. It is just a matter of time before a major incident occurs; unless this situation is addressed.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: TLH CTLR VOICED CONCERN REGARDING FSS OPS WHICH INCLUDE ACFT DELAYS; INCREASED ATC WORKLOAD; ALL OCCURRING SINCE FSS CONTRACTED FUNCTIONS.
Narrative: THERE WERE 4 ACFT UNNECESSARILY DELAYED INTO BGE ARPT. THE REASON FOR THESE DELAYS ARE DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE CONTRACTING OUT THE FSS. COORD IS A NIGHTMARE AT BEST. WE ARE EXPERIENCING EXTENSIVE DELAYS WITH ARR TIMES AND CANCELLATIONS. THESE UNNECESSARY DELAYS ARE PASSED ALONG TO THE PLTS. THERE IS NO CONTINUITY WITH THE FSS SPECIALISTS. WHEN WE CALL FSS (ATC ALSO EXPERIENCES DELAYS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO CONTACT FSS); IT APPEARS TO BE A 'CRAPSHOOT' TO WHICH FSS WE ACTUALLY CONTACT. THIS PRESENTS A NUMBER OF PROBS: THE SPECIALIST NOT BEING FAMILIAR WITH THE ASSOCIATED AIRSPACE; ATC CLRNCS RELAYED IMPROPERLY; CLRNCS FILED WRONG; ETC. THIS CREATES ADDITIONAL WORKLOADS AND DISTRS FOR ATC WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CORRECT THESE MISTAKES. JUST RECENTLY; AN IMPROPERLY RELAYED ATC CLRNC RESULTED IN AN AIRSPACE VIOLATION. IN SOME INSTANCES; PLTS HAVE RESORTED TO CALLING THE ATC FACILITY DIRECTLY (ON THE UNRECORDED LANDLINE) FOR CLRNCS; RERTES AND CANCELLATIONS TO AVOID ANY CONTACT WITH FSS. IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE A MAJOR INCIDENT OCCURS; UNLESS THIS SITUATION IS ADDRESSED.
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.