Caravan Undifferentiated
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Training / Qualification; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Airborne Conflict
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors; Procedure
I was talking to local pilot and was told of this event and how close it was. A Caravan was cleared for takeoff 35L IFR and issued a 320 heading by the Local Controller. A Mooney; VFR inbound to land 35L from the north; Local Control was talking to both aircraft; known traffic. The Caravan was told to stop his climb and he said as he lowered and leveled he saw the dirty underbelly of the Mooney go by right in front of him. He shouted out on frequency and it was really close. No traffic was issued. Another voice came on the Tower frequency and said we did not see him either. Tower had a VFR tag on the D-Brite and was talking to the VFR Mooney; known traffic. This Controller is extremely weak and should never have been certified in the first place. I have never in my career; seen someone this bad; get certified. The screening; certification and accountability process has to change or be enforced; requiring stiffer guidelines/standards be met and passed. There needs to be one standard across the board for everyone at each particular facility to achieve certification. This will help maintain the integrity and safety of the system and create a model work environment for all employees; allowing success all the way around. This is not always done; at times there are 2-3 standards depending on level of knowledge; friendliness; gender and how good you look or dress. Seriously; it is sad that our great profession is coming to this.
Tower Controller described a critical conflict event between an IFR departure and a VFR arrival with no exchange of traffic; both aircraft in contact with Local Control; the reporter noting the controller involved as extremely weak and the training program needing stiffer standards.