A TRACON Controller reported a Supervisor working a sector vectored an aircraft below the Minimum Vectoring Altitude; turned two aircraft onto the final approach course inside the FAF and did not know how to issue appropriate go around instructions.

Date: 2024-12 · Aircraft: Regional Jet 700 ER/LR (CRJ700) · Phase: approach

Anomalies: atc-issue-all-types|deviation-discrepancy-procedural-published-material-policy|deviation-discrepancy-procedural-clearance|inflight-event-encounter-cftt-cfit

Synopsis

A TRACON Controller reported a Supervisor working a sector vectored an aircraft below the Minimum Vectoring Altitude; turned two aircraft onto the final approach course inside the FAF and did not know how to issue appropriate go around instructions.

Narrative

This report is to make the agency aware that Front Line Manager (FLM) in the ZZZ area has routinely displayed an inability to work traffic without being assisted by the controllers on the floor during the times she is getting her currency. In this latest incident Aircraft X was being vectored for the ILSXX at ZZZ1. She issued an intercept heading inside of the outer marker. When I noticed this; I told her you turned him too early. She appeared flustered and unsure what to do. No corrective action was taken until Aircraft X was now descending below the MVA on the GS about a mile east of the LOC still on a 360 heading. At 2500 feet she instructed Aircraft X to fly runway heading (2500 is 500 feet below the MVA); and to climb to 4000. Along with vectoring below the MVA; she never cancelled the approach clearance; and the heading she assigned didn't make sense as the aircraft was not in the tower pattern. When sequenced for the second time Aircraft X was still turned on the LOC illegally again. This time she took no corrective action and switched the aircraft to the tower. Aircraft Y was also turned on illegally intercepting around 1 mile outside the outer marker.This is no where near the first time I or other controllers have witnessed her gross incompetence; but I have a professional; and moral obligation to the flying public to make this report. In the past she been unable to clear aircraft to an alternate airport; she has issued RNAV clearances with a 135 degree intercept angle; she has issued climb out instructions to a student pilot IFR to maintain an altitude below the MVA; she has instructed a pilot on an IFR flight plan to enter the left down wind instead of issuing a visual approach clearance; and by the way the aircraft was on the right down wind for starters; even on DATA she was unable to make a routine 6;7;10 amendment; she was unable suppress a Preferred Departure Routing (PDR); the list goes on; and on; but I can no longer remain silent in regard to the safety risk she presents everyday she comes to work. FLM's are not being held to the same certification standards controllers are held to; and if they were perhaps they would have a clue how to do the job that they have been hired to supervise. The chain of command is completely upside down. How can the person supervising the entire area; not only not know how to do the job; but isn't even certified on all of the positions. The bar has been lowered so far that this sort of gross incompetence is the result. FLM's should be expected to at least meet the minimum requirement to certify; which is to work moderate traffic under general supervision; unfortunately the expectation has become they don't really need to know how to do the job; were just checking a box with their joke of a check ride with little to no traffic; and oh will just certify you on the easiest scope. In closing the placement of these people in leadership roles is dangerous; and frankly insulting to our entire profession; and most importantly the flying public. I strongly recommend the decertification of her; and the issuance of skill enhancement training that she so desperately needs.

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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.