Light Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 6.5
Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance
Airspace Structure; Procedure
Aircraft X was cleared for visual approach to Runway 35 from left base (west of the airport). I noticed that Aircraft Y was south of his standard departure heading off Runway 9L (normally a 127 heading). Aircraft Y was headed more like a 140 heading; which puts the aircraft very near the Runway 35 final. There was no loss of separation; but it was not a 'controlled' situation. The Departure Controller informed me that Aircraft Y was turned southeast to avoid the previous departure; a slower-moving aircraft that was on the same heading.This is yet another example of the ineffective allocation of our 'authorized' departure headings. We use 081 and 050 for northbound departures; and 112 and 127 for southbound. The 127 heading is used for both props and jets. We also have the ability to use a 096 heading; but I have been told that it is 'earmarked' for northbound departures when our north airspace is redesigned. It seems ridiculous that we don't have the ability to use the 096 heading for prop traffic; at least until our airspace is redesigned (which I don't think is currently in progress). It would keep them out of the way of jet traffic; give us much more space to climb the under-performing props above our arrivals; and would prevent a jet running over a prop. Again; we have an authorized departure heading that we choose not to use because of some bureaucratic direction that it is for 'northbound' traffic. LGA and EWR are both 'north' of PHL; but prop traffic to those airports use a 127 heading to get there. Meanwhile; traffic going to CLT; which is hundreds of miles 'southwest' of PHL; use a 'northbound' heading. Shouldn't safety and efficiency take priority over procedures for airspace we won't redesign for years to come?
PHL Controller describes issue with headings off PHL that cause the controllers confusion.