Commercial Fixed Wing
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 3.9
Training / Qualification; Situational Awareness; Distraction; Troubleshooting; Confusion
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance
Procedure
Working DR1/SR1 combined. I sent Aircraft X over to BJC on a visual approach to 30R. I receive a call from BJC requesting Opposite Direction Operation (ODO) Aircraft Y VFR climb direct FOOOT; I responded with hold for release. I asked the supervisor if I missed a briefing while we were on vacation on ODO and she wasn't sure.  I asked the room what our current requirements were on ODO and no one knew. The last briefing I had received was that ODO was only approved when coordinating with DEN. The general consensus in the room was that ODO was still suspended with satellites; but also that a VFR climb was not ODO unless I had another IFR inbound. BJC called again to ask how long for a release on Aircraft Y; when I told her I may not be current on ODO; she proceeded to tell me why I could do it. Aircraft X had landed so I issued a VFR climb release without saying the ODO phraseology. After I was relieved from position the supervisor recommended I go to the procedures office to find out what I was supposed to do.In the procedures office; they said what I did was correct. Operations Manager was also present. They said ODO is only ODO for me if I have another IFR inbound; though I am unclear when that aircraft becomes a factor. All satellite airports are commencing regular ODO procedures and are in compliance by coordinating with the ODO phraseology; even though we are not to repeat it back because we aren't allowed to conduct ODO with anyone other than DEN. I would like a thorough briefing on the above mentioned statements so that I feel confident in how to handle future situations like this one. I would like BJC to be reminded that we aren't allowed to approve ODO and that when they call with ODO in the coordination; our controllers may be hesitant to respond with other than unable. I would like a procedure or a best practice to be developed so that everyone is coordinating the same way.
D01 Controller reported a request for Opposite Direction Operation (ODO) from BJC Tower. The Controller was not sure how to handle it; and neither did anyone on duty. Eventually one of the aircraft had landed so it was no longer on ODO; so the reporter released the VFR aircraft.