Narrative:

During morning hours at sfo the sun shines directly into the tower making it difficult to see the runways and the finals. In the past; I have worn a baseball cap to help shield my eyes from the sun. FAA does not allow us to wear any hat or sun visor to shade our eyes from the sun. Consequently; I must use my hand to shield my eyes from the sun. This becomes tiring after a few mins. This reduces my efficiency as I now must do my work with only 1 hand. This reduces safety as I cannot always perform my job and shield my eyes from the sun at the same time. Correction of problem: FAA should allow ATC personnel to wear baseball style hats to shield their eyes from the sun.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SFO CTLR VOICED CONCERN REGARDING MORNING TWR VISIBILITY RESTRICTION CAUSED BY SUNRISE CONDITIONS.

Narrative: DURING MORNING HRS AT SFO THE SUN SHINES DIRECTLY INTO THE TWR MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE THE RWYS AND THE FINALS. IN THE PAST; I HAVE WORN A BASEBALL CAP TO HELP SHIELD MY EYES FROM THE SUN. FAA DOES NOT ALLOW US TO WEAR ANY HAT OR SUN VISOR TO SHADE OUR EYES FROM THE SUN. CONSEQUENTLY; I MUST USE MY HAND TO SHIELD MY EYES FROM THE SUN. THIS BECOMES TIRING AFTER A FEW MINS. THIS REDUCES MY EFFICIENCY AS I NOW MUST DO MY WORK WITH ONLY 1 HAND. THIS REDUCES SAFETY AS I CANNOT ALWAYS PERFORM MY JOB AND SHIELD MY EYES FROM THE SUN AT THE SAME TIME. CORRECTION OF PROB: FAA SHOULD ALLOW ATC PERSONNEL TO WEAR BASEBALL STYLE HATS TO SHIELD THEIR EYES FROM THE SUN.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 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.