Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Communication Breakdown; Confusion
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors; Procedure
I have been trying to find out what the correct procedures are at MKK Airport; and if we consider them a NON-RADAR airport; or apply opposite direction procedures that we are all unclear about. I have been persistently hounding the facility to tell me how to handle MKK Airport operations. Finally; one Supervisor said that he; personally; would just 'Hold For Release (HFR); and send one in; one out; to ensure safety. I asked other than personal techniques; what everyone can do by the rules to ensure safety. I could tell the Supervisor really didn't know; and felt bad that the facility put him in that position. Later; I was providing OJT and had an ATR 72 on a VOR-A Approach; this is a circling approach and about 10 percent of the aircraft will circle to the opposite direction runway. I heard the D-Side trainee get a call from MKK and heard him/her say 'After ATR 72 lands; release Caravan 208A.' I then heard further discussion by the instructor; and some back and forth with MKK Tower. Finally; the trainer said; just call the Supervisor. MKK Tower was trying to get us to approve 'Subject Your Discretion (SYD) because the inbound decided to do an opposite direction circling approach and it would mean that the departure may have to wait and extra minute or two. If I had not been talking about this issue to people around me while I'm working; they would have just approved SYD. It's not that I think SYD is not safe; but I do not believe that MKK Tower knows the correct application of SYD and the facility has just found some Notice that no one knows about; that indicates SYD is not to be used there. Apparently MKK Tower and their controllers do not know of this Notice either. The Supervisor was informed and when he tried to call them to discuss it; MKK hung up on him.
HCF Controller voiced concern regarding the facilities 'unclear' method of handling traffic operating at MKK Airport.