Medium Large Transport
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 4
Confusion; Training / Qualification; Situational Awareness; Distraction
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Speed All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Executed Go Around / Missed Approach
Procedure; Human Factors
I requested not to train on final because I do not feel proficient or comfortable with the new management mandate to issue 170kts to every aircraft on final. It has dramatically increased our workload on final and added complexity to training. I was ordered to train on FR2 (Final Radar 2) 16L/17R. There was a very strong NW wind which made blending aircraft particularly difficult because of wind speed variation at different altitudes. Of the first couple aircraft we had; Aircraft X had no one in front of him and my trainee restricted him to 170. Neither of us expected the aircraft to drop so much ground speed. My trainee had no choice but to speed restrict Aircraft Y immediately which slowed the descent and resulted in a go around. There were two more nearly identical situations where I told my trainee not to speed restrict the first aircraft to avoid another go around; despite the fact that he made a concerted effort to push aircraft down so that matching speeds would be easier. Pushing aircraft down also put us closer to the 16R final; adding complexity and compromising safety. During our training session there were 6 more times I had to intercede for improper speed control and to compensate for the mandated speed restriction. This feels like a contradiction to how I've been trained and how I've been taught to train. There's currently a recurrent training class being taught in our building that is emphasizing the 7110.65 in relation to speed control. Because of this; I am confused as to my priorities when issuing speeds to aircraft. Remove the 170kt mandate or provide a provision that allows controllers to use their better judgment for operational priority or when it compromises safety. Address improper use of speed control on an individual basis.
D01 Controller reported of a mandate that has the controllers slowing every aircraft to 170 knots on final. Controller reported they did not like this and wanted the mandate changed.