A320
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Confusion; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors; Procedure
Landing north during simultaneous approach procedures. The weather was marginal VFR with a scattered layer between 1;000-3;000. I was working arrivals to Runway 1R. The aircraft checked in on a visual approach. I cleared him to land. When he was 2-3 miles from the airport; and around 1;500-2;000 FT; he said to that he lost the airport; but was comfortable continuing the approach if I was. Having never faced this situation; nor having been trained what to do in this situation; I allowed him to continue inbound; telling him to inform me when he got the airport again. After flying about a mile he had the airport in sight and he landed without issue. After speaking with several colleagues who were former RADAR controllers; they told me that I should have cancelled his approach clearance; and delivered him back to the Approach Control facility. I don't think that the final controllers should vector aircraft for visual approaches when we have coordinated and are running simultaneous operations. Additionally; the Monitor should have spoken up and provided instructions to the aircraft when the aircraft said he had lost the airport.
Local Controller failed to issue missed approach instructions after an aircraft cleared via a visual approach lost sight of the airport; this all occurred when simultaneous approach procedures were suppose to be in place.