Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 12
Situational Awareness; Training / Qualification; Workload
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Ground Conflict; Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
I became aware that a loss of runway separation had occurred when three of my co-workers on three separate days came to me for advice/counsel regarding events that had transpired. All of these co-workers are Certified Controllers (CPC) with less than a year of rated time as ATCs. The situation is as follows: The instructor was training the trainee on the Local Control position and the facility was in a Runway 29 and Runway 23 configuration; conducting intersecting runway operations in the midst of a runway change conducting LUAW (Line up and Wait) on Runway 23 and departing traffic off Runway 29. Aircraft X was a jet on the hold on Runway 23 and Aircraft Y was a single prop departing Runway 29. Aircraft Y was airborne and abeam taxiway Foxtrot approximately 3500 feet down Runway 29 and approximately 1000 feet distance remaining to the Runway 23/29 intersection; when Aircraft X was given a departure clearance from the Runway 23 hold with about 1500 feet distance remaining to the Runway 29/23 intersection.I am unable to ascertain from any of the CPC's if Aircraft X started its departure roll before Aircraft Y had passed the intersection. The 'role' I played in this situation is as the trusted informal leader whose advice is sought out in difficult situations. What led to the event and why it happened; this is the second such report that I have filed regarding this OJT (On Job Training) Instructor where standards are not being followed.I feel that the event occurred because during the OJT; the OJT Instructor has poor skills sets and a general lack of experience in air traffic operations under busy/complex traffic situations and this translated into a lack of ability to train another person to handle the same situation. They were unable to sustain air traffic operations and the volume of departure traffic sitting on the ground started to back-up and then a required runway was initiated. Further departure delays and ramp congestion ensued as the level of aircraft waiting built up the OJT Instructor's desire to 'clean up the airport' so to speak may have allowed standards to lapse. I feel I am reporting this situation because the CPC's who actually were present are fearful of repercussions because; I speculate that management was present in the operation and they think he would have reported it if it were an event.I recommend that the following take place; OJT Instructor should be removed from the training team. This is the second event related to runway separation standards; with this same trainee. This is a training team mismatch where the OJT Instructor is over accommodating to the trainee. Retrain this OJT Instructor and trainee on intersecting runway operations separation standards; conduct simulations and perform FLM (Front Line Manager) Skills check prior to the resumption of OJT Instructor duties.Air traffic operations are not being sustained because of the performance of this training team; it is impacting the arrival and departure rate. When this occurs stop training. Recognize that OJT Instructor has limited skills and employ that skill set only when appropriate under light traffic; not complex; until proper performance has been documented.Under moderate traffic conditions conduct OJT Instructor over the shoulder evaluation to ensure that runway separation standards performance will be followed under pressure.OJT Instructor is not accurately reporting the performance of training which takes place and or capturing this performance deficiencies on the 3120-25 (training form). OJT Instructor is not being held accountable. Retrain this OJT Instructor on required entries. Conduct performance review immediately following OJT for the next 3 training periods to ensure the actual performance is being captured on the form.I feel that the actual training taking place has not been productive and in some instances it has been counterproductive for the trainee as standards are not being followed and performance issues in training have not been documented properly. The true picture of this trainee whom only trains with this instructor has not been fully captured. I strongly recommend that several supervisors if not all perform independent Skill Checks to determine what knowledge regarding runway separation has been 'acquired during OJT'. That additional simulations be performed to validate knowledge and skill and that the training hours be adjusted to correct any negative learned behaviors.Consider the 'maturity' of the OJT Instructor; the skill level and experience on the position before assigning the task. Both instructor and trainee were in over their heads apparently. Employ your units within their capabilities to ensure operational success.
A Controller was told of an incident where an Instructor told their trainee to use less than required simultaneous intersecting departure separation standards. The Controller states this ATC Instructor is not qualified to conduct On the Job Training.