PA-28 Cherokee/Archer/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Situational Awareness; Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance
Human Factors
A Piper PA-28 was on the downwind sequence number 4 to follow an aircraft on a 4 mile final for Runway 9R. The pilot was confused and he turned base to follow an aircraft on a 2 mile final in front of a Cessna 172 IFR on a 4 mile final. We issue traffic call to the PA-28 many times. We told the PA-28 to turn south to avoid conflict. Training was in process. It is my view that the Developmental used all necessary tools to fix a situation that was developing. At no time I feel that I needed it to take the frequency; he saw the conflict and he fixed it. After listening to the type; we realized the read back was blocked because another pilot was calling inbound. I personally think we did fix the situation the best way possible. This is a training airport; we provide excellent service to the pilots. I think student pilots are rushed to solo flight without proper training; even if the read back was unreadable; it is the pilot's responsibility to maintain VFR and a safe operation. Language barriers are a big problem in this airport. This situation happens everyday and we need something towards fixing this unsafely events. These types of events also happen when instructors are on board and take no action to fix a problem.
A Piper PA-28 was instructed to follow a Cessna 172 on a 4 mile final at 1;600 feet. Due to frequency congestion; and more pressing ATC priorities to address; I did not obtain the proper readback. The PA-28 turned in the direction of the C172; upon noticing the unsafe situation in issued a safety alert. After the PA-28 had the traffic in sight; I instructed him to make a right 360 degree turn for aircraft diversion and spatial separation. The C172 made an evasive turn to the north then informed me that he was re-establishing himself on the final. I will improve on obtaining proper readbacks after transmitting aircraft instructions. This facility must do a better job of documenting the poor language skills and the lack of pilots not understanding basic ATC instructions. This is one of a many cases that despite proper sequence call; the poor language and level of understanding attributed to an unsafe situation. Management does not address enough the complexity of traffic based on language barriers and proper radio discipline; VFR traffic pattern entry points; VFR reporting points; phraseology; etc. All the tools needed to make a safe operation are not written in LOA's or brought up in team briefings.
TMB Controller described a pattern conflict event when traffic failed to adhere to issued instructions; the reporter claiming language barriers and heavy pilot training as causal factors.