RIC CTLR EXPRESSED CONCERN REGARDING THE FACILITY'S POLICY REF THE NEW TIPH PROCS AND A NEW LOA RESTRICTING DEP HDGS.

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RIC CTLR'S UNION HAS JUST BEEN VERBALLY NOTIFIED THAT ADDITIONAL DEP HDGS (DOWN FROM 3 PER RWY TO JUST 2) WILL BE ELIMINATED BECAUSE; AND I QUOTE: 'RIC CTLRS ARE POINTING DEPARTING ACFT AT ARRS.' IF THESE ALLEGATIONS ARE IN FACT TRUE; WHERE IS THE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION IN THE FORM OF NUMEROUS OPERROR; OPDEV; NEAR MIDAIR AND FLT ASSIST RPTS? RIC UNION IS SEEKING A FULL FLEDGE INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION TO THESE MOST SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS TO COMMENCE IMMEDIATELY. REF TIPH; MANY OF OUR RIC CTLRS WHO HAVE SAFELY AND EFFICIENTLY UTILIZED THIS VALUABLE TOOL FOR MANY YEARS WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY WORKING LCL CTL; AND SERVING AS CTLR IN CHARGE; NOW QUESTION THE FOLLOWING: HOW IS IT THAT LCL CTL CANNOT UTILIZE TIPH IN THAT DUAL ROLE; AS MANY HAVE FOR DOZENS OF YEARS; BUT CAN UTILIZE TIPH WHEN A FRONT LINE MGR THAT HAS BEEN AT RIC FOR ALMOST A YEAR; IS NOT EVEN CERTIFIED ON LCL CTL; AND HAS ONLY A HANDFUL OF OJT HRS IN A SUSPECT ATTEMPT TO POSSIBLY CERTIFY ON LCL CTL AT A MUCH LATER DATE? IF IT IS NO LONGER SAFE TO UTILIZE IN THE DUAL ROLE; THEN HOW CAN IT BE SAFE TO UTILIZE WITH A NON CERTIFIED INDIVIDUAL ACTING AS A FRONT LINE MGR? THE RIC CTLRS WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE A BRIEFING ADDRESSING THE RATIONALE BEHIND THIS INEXPLICABLE DECISION. BTWN THE NUMEROUS RESTRS IMPOSED WITH THE USE OF TIPH; AND NOW THE FURTHER LOSS OF DEP HDGS; BOTH THE 'SAFE' AND 'EXPEDITIOUS' FLOW OF AIR TFC HAS BEEN SEVERELY AND ADVERSELY IMPACTED. BUT THAT IS WHAT YOU GET WHEN OVER 80% OF THE LOA AUTHORS ARE NOT CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL AIR TFC CTLRS AT ALL; OR ARE ONLY REQUIRED TO WORK A MINIMUM NUMBER OF HRS ON EACH POS TO MAINTAIN CURRENCY.