Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 1.5
Training / Qualification; Situational Awareness; Distraction; Confusion; Workload
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Air Traffic Control Separated Traffic
Human Factors; Procedure
Working as Front Line Manager (FLM) in the Burbank area during slow to moderate traffic session; trying to coordinate training teams; etc.  I heard the VLYR controller instruct a VNY jet departure to fly heading 160; which is unusual because in the runway configuration aircraft always depart this airport heading 110 without exception.  As I went to the position to find out what was happening I observed another jet departing the BUR airport on a 210 heading; directly into the VNY departure.  Luckily there was no traffic to the west of VNY airport and I was able to coordinate the VNY jet departure making a climbing right turn to avoid a possible collision. Had there been traffic to the west of VNY airport; which is the norm by far; this situation would have resulted in an operational error and possible collision.  Furthermore; if one of these aircraft had been NORDO they would have flown directly into the other jet.Before and during this event there were numerous distractions in the area.  The controllers work load was minimal; and after discussing the event they admitted to having their back turned to the scope and simply not paying attention to their traffic because of the conversations happening around them.  In addition; the controller was not using flight strips to keep track of aircraft; even though they were being released on converging headings and climbing to the same altitude.  This is the norm in the Burbank area; and policing distractions is becoming a more and more difficult task. This issue is becoming more serious and more frequent; being the norm on any given shift; to the point of serious distractions in the work area.  Controllers are constantly turning away from there scopes (or even walking away altogether) with live traffic on frequency.A serious emphasis need to be taken on reducing distractions in the control area.  There appears to be little support for this from other management in the area; with the focus more on being laid back; cool; or 'chill.'
A Southern California TRACON (SCT) BUR area Front Line Manager (FLM) reports of a conflict and states that it has to do with distractions in the area. Controllers are not paying attention to what is going on in the area and by chance the FLM heard an odd heading; checked it out; and prevented a loss of separation between the two aircraft.