EMB ERJ 145 ER/LR
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 9.5
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance
Human Factors
This is actually 2 different incidents that happened within less than 15 minutes of each other. 1.) Local control (LC) requested to right turn off Runway 26L. I told the Controller heading his choice released. Several minutes later; the second aircraft departs Aircraft X on a right turn direct CADEK (a fix on the TDOWN3 SID). The heading turned Aircraft X right into a VFR target; indicating 095 that was overflying the airport and was not on frequency. After reviewing the tapes; the LC Controller gave Aircraft X a traffic called and said contact departure. As soon as Aircraft X checked on; I immediately turned him to a 360 heading to avoid that traffic that was not on frequency. If Aircraft X had gotten lost in frequency land or took too long to check in; Aircraft X would have climbed right into the unidentified VFR target.2.) Aircraft Y checked on with me in departure. On his flight strip; the LC Controller had written 'Turn left 120.' I said radar contact and nothing else. I needed Aircraft Y to climb on the 120 heading for traffic. Aircraft Y comes back and asks if I want him on a heading; that he was never assigned one. I turn him left 120. After reviewing the tapes; the LC Controller never issued Aircraft Y a heading. The aircraft was only cleared for takeoff. Aircraft Y was on runway heading; flying directly at a mountain. Aircraft Y was climbing out of approximately 052 in a 080 MVA when I turned the aircraft.
ELP TRACON Controller reported two incidents where the Tower Controller issued unsafe headings.