Tower controller relieving the combined local control/ground control positions noted that the contro...

Narrative:

I had just entered the tower to relieve the combined local/ground controller. The controller had B757 in luaw on the runway. A heavy B777 had just departed. Normally; the rules say do not position-and-hold (luaw) behind a departing heavy to wait for appropriate wake turbulence spacing. Anyways; I realized that luaw was being used by combined local/ground controller when it is specifically banned in local/national orders; operational amass notwithstanding. I queried the controller; probably less than 4 years in FAA; and he suggested it was no big deal. The other person in the tower was controller in charge/clearance delivery and perhaps was unaware that luaw was used inappropriately. Recommendation: keep scrutinizing the young/hotshot/lazy controllers; especially those who aren't fully aware of the consequences of picking which rules to ignore and which to follow. It wasn't entirely clear that he forgot the rule; forgot he was combined local/ground control; or 'implied' that he'd decombined ground control just so that a really unnecessary luaw could be issued.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Tower Controller relieving the combined Local Control/Ground Control positions noted that the Controller being relieved was using inappropriate applications of LUAW procedures.

Narrative: I had just entered the Tower to relieve the combined Local/Ground Controller. The Controller had B757 in LUAW on the runway. A heavy B777 had just departed. Normally; the rules say do not position-and-hold (LUAW) behind a departing heavy to wait for appropriate wake turbulence spacing. Anyways; I realized that LUAW was being used by combined Local/Ground Controller when it is specifically banned in local/national orders; operational AMASS notwithstanding. I queried the Controller; probably less than 4 years in FAA; and he suggested it was no big deal. The other person in the Tower was CIC/Clearance Delivery and perhaps was unaware that LUAW was used inappropriately. Recommendation: keep scrutinizing the young/hotshot/lazy controllers; especially those who aren't fully aware of the consequences of picking which rules to ignore and which to follow. It wasn't entirely clear that he forgot the rule; forgot he was combined Local/Ground Control; or 'implied' that he'd decombined Ground Control just so that a really unnecessary LUAW could be issued.

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	953130
Time
Date	201106
Local Time Of Day	0001-0600
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B757-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Taxi
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Heavy Transport
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Takeoff
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Local
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

Tower controller relieving the combined local control/ground control positions noted that the controller being relieved was using inappropriate applications of luaw procedures.