Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 3
Confusion; Communication Breakdown; Distraction; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Human Factors; Procedure
I only witnessed this event. I did not play a role in the event. I was not on position at the time the event occurred. I was waiting to take the position the event happened on. The local controller cleared Aircraft X for takeoff [on a parallel runway] with a heading 030. While Aircraft X was rolling; the local controller cleared Aircraft Y for takeoff [on the adjacent runway] with a heading of 310. The local controller told Aircraft Y traffic was departing the parallel runway and to maintain visual separation. The local controller never got confirmation that Aircraft Y had Aircraft X in sight. Additionally; Aircraft Y is considerably faster than Aircraft X. Aircraft Y was going to takeoff and fly right into Aircraft X because Aircraft X was instructed to turn straight in front of Aircraft Y. The only thing that stopped a NMAC or mid-air collision from occurring was Aircraft Y saw the problem unfolding and told the local controller that he would wait a few seconds before starting takeoff roll because of the other aircraft about to cross his upwind path. The local controller in question was certified [recently] without a recommendation from [the] trainers and against the [local] recommendations. I did not try to correct the situation because the Front Line Manager (FLM) at my facility undermines the trainers and gives the developmental the benefit of the doubt; which has made our opinions and recommendations worthless. The Controller in Charge (CIC) on duty was working Ground Control (GC) and Clearance Delivery (CD) combined during this event and was issuing clearances and was unable to listen or hear what headings or instructions the local controller had issued.I would recommend that FAA management; listen and contemplate input from trainers before arbitrarily signing developmental off without recommendations. I would recommend that the local controller in question be given SET training. [This individual] is not nearly ready to be a CPC and honestly has little to no clue what Air Traffic Control is.
Tower Controller reported a newly certified Local Controller cleared a faster aircraft behind a slower aircraft to depart. The pilot of the faster aircraft decided to wait longer to depart; in order to avoid a Near Mid Air Collision.