Case Studies
Enhancing barriers of defense / monitoring capabilities
Issue identified during NOSS
Aerodrome/Local controllers were not always conducting sufficient runways scans prior to issuing takeoff or landing clearances (nor were ground based radars being used to compensate). Several factors were also noted that were leading to increased “heads down” time by controllers. One involved the Aerodrome/Local controller interacting with the automation, particularly in sorting through long message queues, many of which were of no relevance to the controller (e.g. aircraft overflying the field at FL320). The other involved the hap-hazard manner in which the assistant distributed the flight data progress strips to the controller.
Response to findings
The organization made efforts to reduce the amount of “heads down” time by adjusting the strip distribution procedures and applying software filters to eliminate irrelevant messages in the automation. In addition, the importance of conducting proper runway scans were re-enforced by the quality standards and training teams. A follow-up NOSS indicated that runway scans were being sufficiently conducted (and even cited as a strength).
