Fairchild Swearingen Undifferentiated or Other Model
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Human-Machine Interface; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
ATC Equipment / Nav Facility / Buildings; Human Factors; Procedure
I was working Local position during the midnight shift and RADAR called and asked if she could use Runway 18R for a landing aircraft. We were advertising Runway 36C and Runway 27 for arrivals. I approved it and switched the localizer and approach lights to Runway 18R. I changed the configuration on the AMASS; however I did not notice the X's on Runway 18R. Someone during the day or night shift prior to mine had put X's on the AMASS to indicate Runway 18R was closed. Runway 18R was not closed and I do not know why someone would put the runway closed on the AMASS. The Runway 18R CLOSED placard was not being displayed. There was no reason to deny any aircraft a landing clearance to Runway 18R. When Air Carrier X reached a 2 mile final; the AMASS alerted me that Runway 18R was closed. I visually scanned the runway and there were no vehicles or aircraft in the vicinity of the runway and I allowed Air Carrier X to land Runway 18R. It was an honest mistake to have the Runway 18R closed on the AMASS; and I saw no reason to send Air Carrier X around due to this oversight. The X's on the AMASS skipped my attention as well as the previous controller on local position. I make it a habit in the relief briefing to verbally state the status of the AMASS. Our facility's relief briefing checklist requires us to verbally state the status of all Runway's; i.e. closed; open; active or not active. I would recommend putting larger X's on the AMASS ASDE-3 for a closed runway. Change SAFETY LOGIC ALERT RESPONSES. I believe AMASS is great asset to the aviation community and I know it has increased safety at the airports where it is installed. However; I believe AMASS should be a reminder versus a primary means of sending an aircraft around on a closed runway. The Controller; not a piece of programmed equipment should have the final say in this decision making. In my experience; I have seen more false alerts than saves with this equipment.
Tower Controller working a late night shift allowed an aircraft to land on a closed runway according to the AMASS equipment; the reporter offering several suggestions to improve the equipment functionality.