MIL ACFT MAKING AN APCH TO RWY GOES AROUND BECAUSE OF VEHICLE ON RWY.
Synopsis
MIL ACFT MAKING AN APCH TO RWY GOES AROUND BECAUSE OF VEHICLE ON RWY.
Narrative
WHILE WORKING GND CTL/CLRNC DELIVERY/FLT DATA (COMBINED) AND CTLR-IN-CHARGE POS IN THE TWR CAB; I COORDINATED FOR; AND RECEIVED; PERMISSION FOR LCL CTL POS (LCL CTL POS WAS CONDUCTING OJT INSTRUCTION TO A DEVELOPMENTAL) TO 'PROCEED NBOUND ON RWY 34L' TO 'HOLD SHORT OF RWY 10.' THE VEHICLE I WAS COMMUNICATING WITH RECEIVED THESE INSTRUCTIONS. IT WAS THE DEVELOPMENTAL CTLR WHO ISSUED THE COORD RESPONSE TO ME; AND LATER DURING THE INITIAL INVESTIGATION OF THE EVENT; WE LEARNED THAT THE CTLR PROVIDING OJT INSTRUCTION DID NOT HEAR THE COORD TAKE PLACE. THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED AS INSTRUCTED AND REMAINED SHORT OF RWY 10 AT ALL TIMES. THE MTR X EXECUTED AN APCH AND DEP OVER RWY 10. AT THIS TIME I WAS ENGAGED IN OTHER DUTIES INCLUDING THE RECORDING AND MONITORING OF THE ATIS. I BELIEVE IT WAS AT THIS POINT THE DEVELOPMENTAL ISSUED INSTRUCTIONS TO THE MTR TO ENTER R DOWNWIND RWY 34L. I SAW THE MTR MAKE A R TURN DEPARTING RWY 10 AS IF ON A R XWIND LEG FOR RWY 10. THEN A SINGLE-ENG SMA CALLED ME FOR TAXI INSTRUCTIONS; FREQ; SQUAWK CODE. THIS REQUIRED 'HEADS DOWN' TIME TO ENTER ARTS COMPUTER KEY ENTRIES; STRIP MARKING. CHKING ON THE VEHICLE'S PROGRESS; I SAW IT MANEUVERING OFF OF RWY 34L AND SAW THE MTR ON CLBOUT OVER THE RWY (SAME). THE DEVELOPMENTAL ISSUED A CLRNC TO THE MTR TO OPERATE ON RWY 34L WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE AND I DID NOT HEAR HIM ISSUE THOSE INSTRUCTIONS. NO ONE DENIED AN OPERROR OCCURRED. SAD TO SAY IT WAS THE ARPT MGR AND CTL TWR CHIEF IN THE VEHICLE WHO FIRST SAW THE ACFT ENTER THE RWY (IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR; NO LESS). I BELIEVE THE FOLLOWING TO BE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS: 1) LOW STAFFING -- 4 PEOPLE ON SICK LEAVE. WE USUALLY HAVE AN EXTRA PAIR OF EYES AND EARS IN THE TWR CAB; AND IS REQUIRED WHEN WE HAVE THE STAFFING. THIS IS WHY I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE SUPVR IN CHARGE OF THE DAY WATCH ALSO PERMITTED ANOTHER ATC TO ATTEND A SECURITY OPS CLASS; OF NONCRITICAL NATURE SINCE THE CLASS IS HELD EVERY WK AND IS OPEN ENROLLMENT. 2) FACILITY COMS EQUIP/ICSS. I WAS TOLD THAT WHEN 2 HEAD SETS ARE PLUGGED INTO THE SAME JACK MODULE; AS WHEN OJT INSTRUCTION TAKES PLACE; THE SYS CAN BE CONFIGURED VIA THE CTLING COMPUTER TO PROVIDE SIDE-TONE IN THE INSTRUCTOR'S EAR PIECE. HAD THIS SYS BEEN CONFIGURED AS SUCH BY THE PERSONNEL HAVING AUTHORITY TO DO SO; THE OJT INSTRUCTOR MAY HAVE HEARD; AND THEREFORE HAVE BEEN AWARE; OF THE COORD BTWN THE DEVELOPMENTAL AND GND CTL.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.