Narrative:

I was working flight data. The configuration was north traffic with xxl and xxr being the active runways. A supervisor was working local with all the locals combined in light; routine traffic. Traffic began to pick up a bit and the supervisor told the controller in charge to call up some people waiting to do training. By the time the trainer and trainee got up to the cab and started monitoring; the supervisor was already losing the flick and was getting behind. At no point did the controller in charge step in and provide assistance; tell the trainer to spot or call for a split. After a few minutes of monitoring the trainee had the picture and told the supervisor he was ready for the briefing. However; the supervisor was already so far behind he was unable to give the briefing and he continued to attempt to work the traffic. The trainer and trainee then began to spot for the supervisor. Several separation errors were avoided by both the trainer and trainee telling the supervisor what to do; i.e. Send aircraft around; etc. The first major occurrence was a staged VFR centurion from the southeast who did not call the tower right away. Neither the controller in charge nor the supervisor noticed the aircraft inside the airspace until the ground controller pointed him out asking; 'who was the aircraft lining up for xxr?' I then called approach and verified that it was the centurion. The centurion did not make radio contact with the tower until he was well inside the airspace on final for xxr. There were at least 3 other aircraft in the pattern for xxr. The supervisor told the centurion to fly eastbound without any regard to the traffic he had on downwind for xxr and nearly missed one skyhawk. The centurion then continued eastbound until the spotters told the supervisor to turn the centurion back for the airport. The supervisor then told the centurion to continue westbound for xxl when the spotters pointed out the aircraft was still eastbound and would need different control instructions. At no point during this situation was positive control maintained by the supervisor. The second occurrence was a solo student pilot on final for xxl in front of a CRJ2. The crj was quickly gaining on the student solo and the controller in charge told the supervisor to change the aircraft runway. The supervisor used incorrect phraseology and told the student to 'circle to runway xxr'. The student did not understand the instruction and began making 360s on final for xxl. The supervisor was unaware of this situation until one of the spotters pointed it out to him. He then told the student to fly eastbound and put him directly into the uncontrolled mix on xxr. By this time there were 5 aircraft on xxr and the supervisor made the comment that he didn't know who anyone was. Shortly after this the trainer said he had the picture and asked the supervisor if he wanted him to take the position. The supervisor gave him a very abbreviated briefing and the trainer took the position; cleaned it up and then let the trainee work the traffic. Recommendation; at no point in the above scenario would the traffic be considered anything other than moderate; occasionally difficult traffic for this airport. Supervisors do not normally work very difficult or heavy traffic; and this supervisor tries to avoid even working anything more than light; not difficult traffic. Supervisors are not proficient; and if they are not going to be required to maintain proficiency on anything other than light; not difficult traffic than that is all they should be allowed to work. A policy needs to be put in place keeping members of management who are not proficient from working traffic that is beyond their skill level; or even getting into situations where it builds into something beyond there skill level. At this airport newly checked out cpc's are not allowed to work local traffic combined without an assist for the first 20 hours; otherwise local must be split. I think this rule; or a similar rule; should apply to supervisors. Something needs to be put in place to prevent extremely unsafe situations like the one above. Also; this is not an isolated incident. I spoke to other controllers at this facility about this incident and they have seen similar situations happen when this particular supervisor is working any control position. Every time this particular supervisor is on a control position he is putting aircraft and other users at risk.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Tower Controller voiced concern regarding supervisors allowing themselves to be caught working in heavy and complex traffic situations when they have little proficiency.

Narrative: I was working Flight Data. The configuration was North traffic with XXL and XXR being the active runways. A supervisor was working Local with all the Locals combined in light; routine traffic. Traffic began to pick up a bit and the supervisor told the CIC to call up some people waiting to do training. By the time the trainer and trainee got up to the cab and started monitoring; the supervisor was already losing the flick and was getting behind. At no point did the CIC step in and provide assistance; tell the trainer to spot or call for a split. After a few minutes of monitoring the trainee had the picture and told the supervisor he was ready for the briefing. However; the supervisor was already so far behind he was unable to give the briefing and he continued to attempt to work the traffic. The trainer and trainee then began to spot for the supervisor. Several separation errors were avoided by both the trainer and trainee telling the supervisor what to do; i.e. send aircraft around; etc. The first major occurrence was a staged VFR Centurion from the Southeast who did not call the tower right away. Neither the CIC nor the supervisor noticed the aircraft inside the airspace until the Ground Controller pointed him out asking; 'who was the aircraft lining up for XXR?' I then called Approach and verified that it was the Centurion. The Centurion did not make radio contact with the tower until he was well inside the airspace on final for XXR. There were at least 3 other aircraft in the pattern for XXR. The supervisor told the Centurion to fly Eastbound without any regard to the traffic he had on downwind for XXR and nearly missed one Skyhawk. The Centurion then continued Eastbound until the spotters told the supervisor to turn the Centurion back for the airport. The supervisor then told the Centurion to continue Westbound for XXL when the spotters pointed out the aircraft was still Eastbound and would need different control instructions. At no point during this situation was positive control maintained by the supervisor. The second occurrence was a solo student pilot on final for XXL in front of a CRJ2. The CRJ was quickly gaining on the student solo and the CIC told the supervisor to change the aircraft runway. The supervisor used incorrect phraseology and told the student to 'circle to Runway XXR'. The student did not understand the instruction and began making 360s on final for XXL. The supervisor was unaware of this situation until one of the spotters pointed it out to him. He then told the student to fly Eastbound and put him directly into the uncontrolled mix on XXR. By this time there were 5 aircraft on XXR and the supervisor made the comment that he didn't know who anyone was. Shortly after this the trainer said he had the picture and asked the supervisor if he wanted him to take the position. The supervisor gave him a very abbreviated briefing and the trainer took the position; cleaned it up and then let the trainee work the traffic. Recommendation; at no point in the above scenario would the traffic be considered anything other than moderate; occasionally difficult traffic for this airport. Supervisors do not normally work very difficult or heavy traffic; and this supervisor tries to avoid even working anything more than light; not difficult traffic. Supervisors are not proficient; and if they are not going to be required to maintain proficiency on anything other than light; not difficult traffic than that is all they should be allowed to work. A policy needs to be put in place keeping members of management who are not proficient from working traffic that is beyond their skill level; or even getting into situations where it builds into something beyond there skill level. At this airport newly checked out CPC's are not allowed to work local traffic combined without an assist for the first 20 hours; otherwise local must be split. I think this rule; or a similar rule; should apply to supervisors. Something needs to be put in place to prevent extremely unsafe situations like the one above. Also; this is not an isolated incident. I spoke to other controllers at this facility about this incident and they have seen similar situations happen when this particular supervisor is working any control position. Every time this particular supervisor is on a control position he is putting aircraft and other users at risk.

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.