A319
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Situational Awareness; Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors; Procedure
I received a briefing from the current Local Controller after observing the operation for approximately 5 minutes due to volume and complexity. The Local Controller was maneuvering aircraft on Runway 15 to get him in the block of Runway 19 as well as working a moderate paced session of arrivals and departures. In addition Helicopter Control was open and the Local Controller briefed me on a photo mission [helicopter] operating west of the (Final) implied by where he pointed. I accepted the position under the assumption [the] helicopter was going to remain west of the final approach corridor. I observed [the] helicopter in a left turn approaching my final approach corridor closer than I am used to for these kinds of photo missions. It was never coordinated with me that helicopter would be on my final approach nor at 1;600 FT. I issued a traffic call to Air Carrier X for helicopter traffic at his 12 O'clock and 3 miles. I queried the Helicopter Controller as to what [the] helicopter was doing? Helicopter did not respond. I then raised my voice and asked again and got no response again. The third time I shouted at Helicopter Control to 'MOVE AIR PHOTO NOW!' The Helicopter Controller walked to my side of the Tower to look out the window at [the] helicopter even though it was evident from the RACD that he was encroaching on the final [corridor]. He then walked back to his position and engaged in coordination with helicopter to maintain visual separation which I heard and relayed to Air Carrier X. By the time the aircraft were diverging I believe they came within 1 mile; 0 vertical; converging at close to 250 knots. I was about to issue go around instructions to Air Carrier X when I heard helicopters get the visual read back and saw helicopter's next RADAR return in a descending left turn. The controller working helicopters at the time blatantly disregarded my attempts at coordination before taking action. I have sent around another Airbus in a prior situation where he attempted to cross my final with a helicopter without coordination. Interpersonal relationships should not be a focus in safe movement of air traffic. Our helicopter operation is an abomination of the picture of safe aircraft movement. We had an operational error which led to a Corrective Action Plan being implemented in a shotgun fashion. We have at least tripled the helicopter controllers' workload due to requiring altitude verification and RADAR identification procedures that none of us have achieved a comfortable grasp of. In this case specifically; the route to be flown by the helicopter should have never been approved without coordination from the Helicopter Controller directly to the Local Controller. Additionally; the helicopter should have never been allowed near the final during this time period which is a consistently busy hour.
Tower Controller described a conflict event involving a helicopter operating a photo mission and an Air Carrier arrival; the reporter suggesting improved and standardized procedures for handling helicopter photo operations.