Small Aircraft
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 20
Human-Machine Interface; Situational Awareness; Workload
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Executed Go Around / Missed Approach
Airport; Human Factors
An aircraft attempted a wrong surface landing. I was working the helicopter position and was just checking to see a landed Helicopter had cleared the taxiway onto the ramp. The Ground Controller with a raised voice shouts out something about short final for the wrong runway and to send an aircraft around. He had to say it at least twice. I glanced back and forth from the Local controller to the arrival ends of the runways. I saw the seated Local Controller; who was staring straight at the radar in front of her; look up and out the window finally sending Aircraft X around. Aircraft X was less than a mile final and less than 100 ft. to the closed runway.The Ground Controller did an excellent job of noticing a small dark aircraft that was blending into the background and speaking up. The Local Controller was in my opinion behind in the operation and not making the most efficient use of her resources. Such as looking out the window and relying practically on the radar display. Too many VFR Tower Controllers rely too much on a radar display and attempt to work traffic like a TRACON. The FAA 7110.65 needs to be divided up into at least 3 supplements. Enroute; TRACON; and B C D Towers. The first thing stated for the towers should be to 'look out the windows.'
VNY Tower Controller reported that a Local Controller failed to notice that an aircraft was about to land on the wrong runway.