Embraer Jet Undifferentiated or Other Model
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; General Declared Emergency
Aircraft; Human Factors; Procedure
Air Carrier X departed and was made 'yellow' on my STARS display. I was working Final Center. Monitors were in; but visual approaches were working below 5;000 FT. Air Carrier X was vectored south of the airport for a while and then handed off to the final South Controller. He had scratch pad A27 meaning assigned Runway 27. The aircraft was still yellow on my scope; but I was not aware of any problems. The Controller working Final South is new. I heard the Final South Controller say 'I understand you are declaring an emergency and are requesting the trucks.' The Controller yelled 'Supervisor!' with no response. The Controller yelled 'Supervisor' again; with no response. I asked the other Controller if I could help him. He said yes; contact the Tower and get the trucks to Runway 27. I did contact the Tower and informed Local South to get the trucks to Runway 27. The Final South Controller and myself yelled for a supervisor who did show up. The Final South controller put an 'EM' on Air Carrier X signifying emergency. The supervisor began to address the situation and the Final South Controller said that Air Carrier X had a gear issue and would not be able to exit the runway and needed a tug to drag him off. I informed the supervisor that I thought the fire trucks were needed and it was really only a tug and he needed to call the Tower and straighten things out. I continued to work my traffic throughout the emergency. The supervisor instructed the Final South Controller to take Air Carrier X to Runway 26R; which is my runway to work. I told the other Controller to 'give the aircraft to me' and I modified Air Carrier X's tag to my symbol. The Final South Controller turned the emergency 30 degrees right to expect Runway 26R; Air Carrier X was level at 2;000 FT. The aircraft did not turn initially. I had Air Carrier Y on a base at 3;000 FT; I told Air Carrier Y to maintain 3;000 FT there was an emergency in progress and if he needed to slow down he could at his discretion; as to remain in position to make a Visual Approach to 26L. I observed the emergency aircraft make the right turn and I cleared Air Carrier Y for a Visual Approach Runway 26L. The Final South Controller did not ship the aircraft to my frequency and in fact turned him in on 26R localizer. I leaned over to his scope and put my fingers on the two aircraft and said 'you will need to get Visual Separation.' The Final South Controller asked the emergency aircraft if he saw Air Carrier Y crossing in front right to left for the parallel runway. Air Carrier X did not respond in the affirmative. I considered cancelling Air Carrier Y's clearance since he had not yet left 3;000 FT. I then heard the Final South Controller verify that the other aircraft (Air Carrier Y) was in sight and issue 'Maintain Visual Separation.' The supervisor then said take Air Carrier Y out.  I allowed Air Carrier Y to continue the approach. Recommend that aircraft assigned to my runway should be worked by me.
TRACON Controller working the final approach position during parallel operations described a very confused event involving an emergency aircraft that involved failed coordination between controllers at the two positions.