Widebody; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Communication Breakdown; Distraction; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance
Human Factors; Procedure
Aircraft X was departing from Runway 8R during contra flow operation. Aircraft X was put in the rundown list with the note 'ry08' to indicate that they would depart Runway 8R with Aircraft Y inbound. Aircraft X was cleared for takeoff with Aircraft Y on a 16 mile opposite direction final for Runway 26L. Aircraft X took Runway 8R but had a momentary delay and it would be close with the opposite direction arrival of Aircraft Y. Aircraft X was airborne and starting a right turn with sufficient time and both Aircraft X and Aircraft Y had each other in sight. There was no loss of separation! SCT (POM sector) called up complaining that they had not been told that ONT was in contra flow operation and that Aircraft X departing Runway 8R was something they had not expected even though I put Aircraft X in the rundown list with 'ry08'. ONT had been contra flow since XA00PM [late evening]. The swing shift crew at ONT apparently had not notified SCT of contra flow before we came in for the mid-shift. First; contra flow operation must be changed from its current XA00PM to XJ00AM to to something more along the lines of XB00pm to XH00AM or even XC00AM-XI00AM. Second; changing to contra flow must be a decision that the mid-shift crew makes not the crew that will be leaving right after it starts. There are too many arrivals between XA00pm and XB30pm to get any departures out with any level of efficiency.
ONT Tower Controller reported of an unsafe opposite direction operation.