ATCT LCL CTLR ADVISES RECENT FAA RESTR ON TIPH CLRNCS IMPACT OPERATIONAL SAFETY DURING CONVECTIVE WX CONDITIONS AT LEX.

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THUNDERSTORMS WERE IMPACTING LEX AIRSPACE ON THE MORNING OF 3/WED/07. IN THE PAST; TWR CTLRS AT LEX WERE ALLOWED TO LET DEPARTING ACFT TO TAXI INTO POSITION AND HOLD AND LOOK AT THE WX. THE CREW WOULD ADVISE THE TWR CTLR WHAT HEADING THEY WANTED TO AVOID THE WX. AFTER COORDINATING WITH THE RADAR CTLR; THE TWR CTLR COULD ISSUE THE REQUESTED HEADING THE ACFT WANTED FOR A SAFE OP AND CLR THEM FOR TAKEOFF. THE FAA HAS NOW RESTR THE USE IF TIPH; MAKING IT VIRTUALLY OBSOLETE AT LEX ATCT. TWO ACFT; ACFT X AND ACFT Y REQUESTED TO TIPH TO LOOK AT THE WX. THE REQUEST HAD TO BE DENIED DUE TO FAA ORDERS. LEX DOES NOT HAVE WX RADAR. THE ACFT WERE CLRED FOR TAKEOFF AND EVERY REQUEST AND ALL COORD WAS DONE 'ON THE FLY.' THE INABILITY TO USE TIPH PUTS DEPARTING ACFT AT RISK DURING THUNDERSTORMS.CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR ADVISED THAT THE CURRENT FAA CRITERIA FOR THE USE OF CLRNCS IS BASED ON INDIVIDUAL FACILITY EXEMPTION FROM THE GENERAL RESTR OF TIPH. SUCH EXEMPTION IS GRANTED ONLY WHEN CERTAIN MINIMUM STAFFING LEVELS ARE PRESENT. ACCORDING TO THE RPTR; THE STAFFING REQUIRED FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE EXEMPTION IS SELDOM PRESENT AT THEIR FACILITY. THE RPTR FELT THE RESTR ON TIPH CLRNCS WAS DRIVEN BY A NEED TO MAINTAIN ACCEPTABLE RWY SAFETY STATISTICS WHILE REDUCING OPERATIONAL EXPENSES; A GOAL RPTR FEELS HAS ONLY SHIFTED THE SAFETY IMPACT FROM THE RWY PROPER TO THE DEP AIRSPACE.