PA-44 Seminole/Turbo Seminole
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Human-Machine Interface; Other / Unknown
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
General None Reported / Taken
ATC Equipment / Nav Facility / Buildings; Human Factors; Procedure
I was relieved from Local Controller 1; traffic was building on west flow (Runway 27R/L; an uncommon flow for pilots and controllers) and during my 2 minute post brief I continued to assist the relieving Controller. Approach called with an emergency with rough running engine. Due to traffic complexity and saturation on all 3 Local Control positions and the very cramped Tower Cab it was extremely difficult to coordinate with the CIC and other local controllers. I was still plugged in the same ETVS position as the relieving Controller (and had no other position to plug into) which made coordination over ETVS impossible without significantly impacting the operation. FLM made the suggestion to land the aircraft on Runway 17R (South flow runway) and Local Controller 1 coordinated with the emergency aircraft and they agreed to Runway 17R. I attempted to coordinate with Local Controller 3 several times; but between traffic and congestion in the Tower Cab I was not able to coordinate in a timely manner. Coordination was accomplished before the emergency aircraft was cleared on Runway 17R; but if the situation had been more time critical I'm not sure if coordination could be accomplished safely. Change the position of Local Controller 1 for west flow in the Tower Cab (work group already working on it). Add ETVS positions so more positions can be opened without interfering with aircraft operations (space in Tower Cab limits installation and number of people on position). Larger Tower Cab; so direct coordination can be accomplished; less distraction during times of high complexity and workloads; more flexibility in positioning operational positions; and allow more positions to be opened.
Tower Controller described the handling of an emergency aircraft and the current equipment and Tower space restrictions that hampered the operation.