ZAN CTLR EXPRESSED CONCERN REGARDING THE FAA DECISION TO CANCEL THE SOP'S FOR VARIOUS ALASKA ATC FACILITIES.
Synopsis
ZAN CTLR EXPRESSED CONCERN REGARDING THE FAA DECISION TO CANCEL THE SOP'S FOR VARIOUS ALASKA ATC FACILITIES.
Narrative
THE FAA IN ALASKA HAS INEXPLICABLY CANCELED THE FACILITY ATC SOP ORDER 7210.3 FOR AT LEAST 4 ALASKAN ATC FACILITIES: ZAN; ANCHORAGE TRACON (A11); ANCHORAGE TWR (ANC); AND FAIRBANKS TWR (FAI). BY DOING SO THE FAA HAS IRRATIONALLY REDUCED THE LEVEL OF SAFETY IN ALASKA. FAA SOP ORDERS 7210.3 ARE LOCALLY DETAILED ENHANCEMENTS TO THE NATL SEPARATIONS STANDARDS CONTAINED IN FAA ORDER 7110.65. SOP'S ADDRESS LOCALLY APPROVED SEPARATION STANDARDS BTWN ACFT AND IN SOME INSTANCES PROVIDE DETAILED SEPARATION METHODS AND APPROVED TECHNIQUES THAT ARE NOT ADDRESSED IN NATL STANDARDS; SUCH AS ADS-B EVAL AND TESTING IN THE BETHEL AREA; ARPT RWY OPS; ETC. THE CANCELLATION OF FACILITY SOP'S HAS CAUSED GREAT CONFUSION AND CONCERN TO AIR TFC CTLRS. THESE ACTIONS BY THE FAA HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED CTLR WORKLOAD; RESULTED IN A LESS EFFICIENT OP FOR SYS USERS; AND REDUCED THE MARGIN OF SAFETY IN THE SKIES OVER ALASKA. TODAY; CTLRS HAVE TO SECOND GUESS THEIR DECISIONS WONDERING HOW FAA MGMNT EXPECTS THEM TO OPERATE THEIR CTL POS. THIS COMPLETELY UNNECESSARY AND COUNTERPRODUCTIVE ACTION BY THE FAA IS CAUSING CTLRS TO TAKE TIME AWAY FROM THEIR SINGLE MOST IMPORT FUNCTION -- ENSURING THE SAFETY OF ACFT UNDER THEIR CTL. NOW CTLRS HAVE TO SPEND ADDITIONAL TIME TO DEAL WITH ROUTINE COORD FUNCTIONS WHICH UNTIL SEP/SUN/06 WERE OUTLINED IN FACILITY SOP ORDER 7210.3. THIS GROUNDLESS ACTION OCCURRED WITH NO NOTICE TO THE WORKFORCE; NO BRIEFINGS TO CTLRS AND NO PLAN TO ADDRESS THE IMPACT TO THE ATC OP. AT 3 ALASKAN ATC FACILITIES; A11; ANC AND FAI THE FAA REISSUED A REVISED SOP. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THESE REVISED SOP'S ARE MISSING PROCS AND RULES CONTAINED IN PRIOR SOP'S. AGAIN THIS INFO HAS NOT BEEN PROPERLY COMMUNICATED TO THE CTLRS AT THE FACILITY AND THEY ARE LEFT UNSURE WHAT PROCS ARE NOW IN EFFECT. I AM NOT SURE WHAT THE FAA'S PLANS ARE FOR THE ZAN SOP NOR IF THEY INTEND TO BRIEF THE WORKFORCE ON ANY ADDITIONAL SOP CHANGES.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.