B737-300
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance
Human Factors; Procedure
When BWI is in an east operation; Runway 15R departures are either given runway heading; climb to 040 for GRACO; or turn right heading 330 for WOOLY departures. A B737 departed and BWI Tower called me and said; 'I accidentally gave the B737 a 330 heading. Can you turn him back to runway heading?' I said roger or affirmative. I immediately displayed the aircraft to WOOLY and BWIFN who would have conflicting traffic. I observed the B737 stop his 180 degree turn approximately halfway through it; pointing directly at an A319; a RAVNN3 arrival; worked by BWIFN. Both aircraft were at or climbing to 040. When the B737 checked on he sounded confused and said 'the Tower gave us a 330 heading. I was simultaneously yelling across the floor to BWIFN; 'I'm going right and climbing!' As BWIFN responded; 'I'm going left and descending! I issued the B737 a further right turn to avoid and climb above traffic. When all else fails; good ATC usually works. I believe standard separation was maintained. These are both re-occurring problems. First BWI Tower controllers have no limitation put on their use of the RADAR D-Brite. They however; are not trained to a level commensurate with their duties. This manifests itself repeatedly. BWI is required by LOA to check the D-Brite and ensure the aircraft auto acquire to the appropriate sector. They routinely turn and switch aircraft without checking the D-Brite. If they had; this situation might have been avoided. Unfortunately; this happens with regularity. Second; the RAVNN3 arrival is perilously close; in a BWI east operation; to these northwest bound aircraft who depart Runway 15R making a 180 turn directly at the RAVNN3 arrival roughly 5 miles apart; at the same altitude; during a critical phase of flight and making a frequency change. It is an outdated heading; based on different BWI traffic from years ago. If these 15R departures went left; or the RAVNN was moved; or if a BWI departure SID was built; with de-conflicting altitudes; this would not continue to occur.
PCT Controller described an unsafe condition claiming BWI Tower controllers do not abide by the LOA with regard to ensuring departures are assigned to the correct PCT sector; adding; new procedures could help prevent similar events.