Medium Transport
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 2.4
Confusion; Distraction; Human-Machine Interface; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Executed Go Around / Missed Approach
ATC Equipment / Nav Facility / Buildings; Human Factors
I was working all radar positions combined and was also the Controller In Charge (CIC) in the Tracon. I cleared an aircraft for the ILS approach and after starting their turn to final; the aircraft informed me that they were not picking up the localizer. I glanced right and saw on the indicator board that the localizer was selected and informed the aircraft. At this point the aircraft was through final and told me they were correcting back to the IAF. While this was happening I called Local Control and asked the status of the localizer. Local Control advised me that the localizer (possibly glideslope as well; I don't recall) was red and he had not noticed because someone had rubberbanded the toggle switch to disable the aural alarm. This is grossly unacceptable and created an unsafe situation. Fortunately I had no other traffic in the area and vectored the aircraft around to the ILS and they landed without incident. Local Control did call me back at some point and advised that after resetting it; the localizer was in the green; but I did not have an aircraft test it before I was relieved.At the time; I was CIC in charge of the Tracon and entire facility. I did notify the controller who relieved me as she was the actual watch supervisor on the facility log and this occurred on her watch.Perhaps retraining on how to deal with one of the localizers not working properly and being in constant or periodic alarm.
TRACON Controller vectored an aircraft to an ILS Approach. The aircraft advised the Controller they were not receiving the localizer and flew through the final approach course. The TRACON Controller's monitor equipment indicated the ILS was selected. The Tower Controller informed the TRACON Controller that the localizer had gone out; but someone had inhibited the aural alarm from sounding by wrapping rubber bands around a toggle switch. The Tower Controller reset the localizer and the aircraft completed its next approach.