Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 2.5
Situational Awareness; Distraction; Confusion; Communication Breakdown; Troubleshooting
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Separated Traffic; Flight Crew Executed Go Around / Missed Approach
Human Factors; Procedure
Aircraft X went IFR into SLI on a TACAN approach. SLI GCA is operating out of a temporary building so for now we have no direct shout line to the tower or GCA. I called the inbound on Aircraft X and shipped him to the tower. He goes missed still on an IFR code. I have no way of knowing if he is IFR or VFR. So I ask him; verify you went missed VFR? He says yes and requests a PAR approach. I ask him if he is GPS equipped as he must be to do a PAR per our LOA (Letter of Agreement) with SLI. He says no; so I ask him to say intentions. He says he wants to cancel IFR and go VFR to NFG.This has happened multiple times. We have no way of knowing if these aircraft are going missed IFR or VFR; (if they cancelled with the tower). We have no shout line to find out and the number we have to call you have to call from the desk or you can't hear them. The reason this is a major safety concern is because when an aircraft goes missed off SLI it goes right through our LGB final; which we protect for by making a hole. However; if I have an aircraft like Aircraft X that says he is VFR only to have him say he is IFR I am now vectoring him below the MVA. We have had aircraft do multiple approaches and said VFR over and over only to go missed the final time and say they want to cancel IFR. I am not sure if it is the tower not explaining things or the aircraft not understanding but it happens every single day and with no shout line is totally unacceptable. Tell SLI; that aircraft are not allowed to go missed unless it is needed; like for FOD on the runway. Or make it a requirement for them to call us on the phone and let us know exactly what the aircraft going missed is doing.
SCT Controller reported that there was confusion whether an aircraft that went on a missed approach was on an IFR code. Controller did not know if the crew were IFR or VFR and asked. Pilot stated VFR on the missed. More confusion ensued when the pilot then said they wanted to cancel IFR and go VFR to another airport.