Controller expressed concern regarding recently implemented FAA and facility requirement to record p...

Narrative:

The FAA recently made it a requirement to complete a mandatory 2 minute overlap when 1 controller is relieving another controller at a control position. In addition; the FAA just made it a requirement for the controllers to record the 'overlap complete' after the 2 minute overlap is complete. This additional requirement is an unsafe distraction to the tower team and adds additional; unnecessary workload to the controllers. Before the requirement to record the overlap complete; the controller that was just relieved would note the time that the briefing was complete and unplug after 2 minutes. Now both controllers have to watch the clock to see when to start the 2 minute overlap; when the 2 minute overlap is complete; and then the controller working has to interrupt his operation and hit the record button and both controllers then state 'overlap complete.' this requirement is unsafe; takes attention away from the air traffic; and needs to be stopped immediately.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Controller expressed concern regarding recently implemented FAA and Facility requirement to record position relief briefings; claiming the process is unsafe.

Narrative: The FAA recently made it a requirement to complete a mandatory 2 minute overlap when 1 Controller is relieving another Controller at a control position. In addition; the FAA just made it a requirement for the Controllers to record the 'overlap complete' after the 2 minute overlap is complete. This additional requirement is an unsafe distraction to the Tower team and adds additional; unnecessary workload to the controllers. Before the requirement to record the overlap complete; the Controller that was just relieved would note the time that the briefing was complete and unplug after 2 minutes. Now both Controllers have to watch the clock to see when to start the 2 minute overlap; when the 2 minute overlap is complete; and then the Controller working has to interrupt his operation and hit the record button and both Controllers then state 'overlap complete.' This requirement is unsafe; takes attention away from the air traffic; and needs to be stopped immediately.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.

Attributes
ACN	826786
Time
Date	200903
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Person 1
Function	Local
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Experience	Air Traffic Control Radar 10 Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 21
Events
Anomaly	Other Position Relief Briefing

Controller expressed concern regarding recently implemented FAA and facility requirement to record position relief briefings; claiming the process is unsafe.