ZFW CTLR EXPRESSED CONCERNS REGARDING NEW OPS PROCS FOR GYI; LISTING INADEQUATE LANDLINE COM AVAILABILITY.
Synopsis
ZFW CTLR EXPRESSED CONCERNS REGARDING NEW OPS PROCS FOR GYI; LISTING INADEQUATE LANDLINE COM AVAILABILITY.
Narrative
THE PROBS WITH THE NEW ATC CONTRACT TWR AT GYI HAVE ALREADY BEEN MENTIONED: 1) LOA IMPOSES RESTRS TO COMPLY WITH THAT CANNOT BE MET. 2) COMS LIMITED TO A NON-DEDICATED PHONE LINE REACHED THROUGH OUR PABX SYS. 3) BASIC COMS PROBS HAVE ALREADY OCCURRED: BUSY SIGNALS; WEAK OR UNREADABLE VOLUME; INABILITY FOR EITHER THE TWR TO DIRECTLY CALL THE SECTOR OR VICE VERSA; ETC. 4) URGENT ATC COMS REGARDING TFC FOR ACFT ON THE TWR FREQ HAVE ALREADY BEEN MET WITH A BUSY SIGNAL. TODAY WE REACHED A NEW LEVEL OF ABSURDITY. THE TWR AT GYI IS TO BE OPEN DAILY XA00-XI00 DURING THE INITIAL TRAINING PERIOD WITH ONLY ADVISORY SVCS PROVIDED UNTIL JUL/XA/08. AT XB05; MORE THAN 1 HR AFTER THE TWR OPENED; A CALL WAS RECEIVED AT THE FRISCO LOW SECTOR (WHICH CTLS THE AIRSPACE THE TWR ASSUMES) ADVISING THAT GYI TWR WAS OPEN. THE CALLER/CTLR WAS QUESTIONED ABOUT IF THEY JUST GOT THERE; AND ADVISED THAT THEIR ONLY PHONE LINE HAD BEEN IN USE WITH A CONFERENCE CALL FOR OVER 1 HR AND THEY JUST GOT IT FREE SO THEY COULD CALL. THE FACT THAT A SINGLE PHONE LINE SERVES THIS TWR FOR ALL FUNCTIONS IS NOT JUST SILLY -- IT IS DANGEROUS. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO HOLD INBOUNDS; RERTE OVERFLTS; AND DO OTHER THINGS BECAUSE OF DELAYS IN CONTACTING THE TWR THROUGH THIS ABSURD SINGLE PHONE LINE. IT MUST BE NOTED THAT THIS TWR HAS BEEN GIVEN AN UNUSUALLY HIGH TOP OF ITS CLASS D (AT LEAST 1000 FT ABOVE THE STANDARD) WITH NO EXPLANATION.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.