Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Procedure
A small training helicopter departed Runway 2 without a clearance. Most fixed wing traffic use our parallel Runway 29 or 11. Runway 2/20 is a short runway; 3;600 FT at an airport with a field elevation of 5;673 FT. It is used primarily when we have strong sustained winds out of the North/South. Both helicopter schools are physically located on the north end of the airport. Our standard procedures devote the northern most 800 FT of Runway 2/20 for helicopter use. It is a system that works well; keeping the helicopter students away from most fixed wing movements; both airborne and on the ground. When the helicopters depart Runway 20 they make a 90 degree turn well north of the parallel runways. When they depart the northern most part of Runway 2 they are already well north of the parallel runways. When they depart Runway 2 there is considerable lag time between the clearance being issued and the helicopter actually getting airborne. It can; and usually does; take a couple; maybe a few; minutes to enter the runway; hover taxi south several hundred feet; turn around; and actually start departure roll. From past experience; I have learned that a significant time delay between the issuance of a clearance; and its actual implementation; can be hazardous. In several past errors the notable time delay between the clearance being given and its actual impact was a major factor. Though infrequent; both helicopter schools have departed without clearance before. ATC should provide a briefing that explains the difference between a controller movement area and an uncontrolled area. From a controlled area; the pilot must await the word 'cleared'. No other word authorizes and actual arrival or departure.
A BJC Controller described an unsafe condition with regard to the time delays utilized by helicopters to cross runways and/or depart via a runway.