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SCT Controller Named in FSS
Deal : Picked up an OE package from QA that named, as controller C ,
an SCT union member. It involved a notam for a closed runway. Flight Service
named two of their people A and B , for failing to issue the notam to the
pilot. The FAA claims we were responsible to issue the notam to the pilot under
Chapter 3 of the 7110.65. That covers Air Traffic Control/Terminal, and also
describes responsibility for braking reports, runway condition, and clearing
people for takeoffs and landings. Sounds like tower stuff to me, and I know Ive
never been trained on it. The notam was within 15 minutes of
ending, the pilot called us for his IFR clearance (not takeoff clearance),
told us he was taking the closed runway, all the barricades and the X s had
been removed from the runway. It is our position that the pilot is responsible
for the safe operation of the flight, including familiarization with pertinent
flight information. We were trained that when a tower was
closed, we are NEVER to issue a runway assignment for an arrival or departure.
It is the pilots job to make the decision which runway to use. While we had the
notam in this case, how many times have we had runway closures that either never
happened or never went as long as advertised? What happens if we get a notam for a
runway closure that was cancelled? Pilot calls the FSS, and is told that there
are no notams for the departure airport. Pilot calls us for IFR on the ground,
says he will be using what we show as a closed runway. We tell the pilot the
runway is notamed closed and cant use it. Pilot takes off with a tailwind on
the much shorter runway and crashes. We would get torn to smithereens by the
subsequent feeding frenzy of attorneys, investigators, survivors, etc&.. Why?
Because Flight Service is responsible for those notams and the pilot is
responsible for runway selection when the tower is closed. We are working this issue over the
Christmas weekend, and hope to have some semblance of a sane answer soon. Staff Specialist Election
Results: With 59% of those responding voting “Yes”, the Staff
Specialists will become NATCA’s third largest bargaining unit. The election must
first be certified by the Federal Labor Relations Authority (probably right
after the first of the year.) Overtime Grievances, the
Epilogue: Finished drafting the language for the settlement agreements
on the SCT grievances regarding the “First Day OT” issue. Again, since this was
a practice established and condoned, even silently, by the union, we do not have
a case for retroactive remedy. Effective the first full pay period in 2002, the
policy will be changed and the OT tracker updated to have a dialog box pop up
reminding the supe/CIC to check those who are now eligible for the OT. Article 17 Super Bowl Focal:
Need a volunteer with San Diego Area experience to help with duties related to
next year’s Super Bowl. Please submit your name to your area rep if you are
qualified and interested in serving. PAC: You’ve heard it from
me, you’ve heard it from Doug, you’ve heard it from John Carr. We need to give
like our careers depend on it. This is our future at stake. There are two
choices. Get out in front of what will be a legislative steam roller to destroy
everything we’ve gained and stop it, or sit around in our tattered bathrobes at
our Mojave Desert trailer park drinking Boone’s Farm wondering what happened to
us and why we didn’t “do more” to protect ourselves. Now is the time for us to
fight the battle. Recently, Rich Smith of the Empire Area
upped his bi weekly contribution to $65. It is not too much to ask every member
and associate member to give $20 per pay period. JANUS Test Facility: SCT,
ZLA, and LAX have been selected to participate in a six month pilot program that
involves a much deeper look into human factors as they relate to operational
errors. I don’t know what the acronym stands for, but NATCA has been involved
from the beginning in this endeavor, and it is supported from the national
level. The team that put this together is tentatively scheduled to be here
between Jan. 9th and 11th. More information will follow
after the first of the year. CIC Survey Form: Very
important. There will be a CIC Survey going out to all members in the near
future. It is crucial that we fill these forms out as accurately and completely
as possible. Please do not let a few negative occurrences color the overall
program. President Carr mentioned in his visit
here that certain comments and perceptions from the survey we filled out on
Personnel Reform made their way into congressional reports. Comments that were
used to illustrate what a “failure” reform was, and how the controller “pay
experiment” was also a failure. I, of course, will not tell you how to
respond. Keep in mind, however, empty allegations are out there that the CIC
program is flawed, and results in safety compromises. Very important and
influential people will be reading your surveys, with an eye to our pay and the
agreements we made with the FAA to secure our raises. The Gift of Hams:
Accompanied Cheryl and Ron to Miramar Wednesday morning to present 5 spiral cut
honey hams to the Marines for their Christmas Party on Thursday afternoon. They
were very grateful, and passed on their appreciation for the job we are doing.
After the presentation, we ran over to the commissary in time to see R. Lee
Ermey, the actor who played the drill sergeant in “Full Metal Jacket”. ARTS Color Displays: Word
was relayed to us today from Mark Dill that SCT will be receiving the ARTS Color
Displays (ACDs) to replace our memory challenged FDADs. The first display will
roll off the assembly line nine months after the signing of the contract. Kind
of like a pregnancy. Look for installation around the end of next year. We’ll
try to get a display in to the facility for you all to look at. Visitors to SCT: We had
three visitors come see us Wednesday. Tom Burr is a NATCA controller from San
Jose Tower who is interested in bidding our facility. Tom and Lisa Gray, a NATCA
couple from Oakland Tower, also stopped by. My thanks to all of you for showing
them the hospitality our guests deserved. It really makes an impression on me
when people take an advance interest in SCT. Cafeteria: The contractor
responsible for running the cafeteria has been doing a worse and worse job over
the months. I’ve reached my wit’s end, and we will do what is necessary to fix
the situation. They must abide by their contract, and we already know they will
not be bidding the next one. Wellness Center: Still
discussing options with management. No other details to release at this time. Jail Time for the FacRep:
Time to come clean, people. My sordid past has caught up with me. On January 23,
2002 I have agreed to surrender to the authorities. I will respect their
authoritiiiiiiiie. At about 11:00 am, I will be taken away and incarcerated at
the On the Border Mexican Grill. My bail is set at $1,500, all of which will be
contributed to the Muscular Dystrophy foundation. So, start collecting now.
Please. I’m innocent, and I don’t want to meet Mr. Ben Dover. Article 52/Self Directed Workteams: New kickoff dates announced. We will be travelling to Memphis
from February 11-15. Pat Moran’s “Coast Rocks!” area is our guinea pig. Potpourri: Worked several
issues from the home front today, while on the RDO. Took calls from the National
Office on our displays, Doug and I chatted for a while about CTAS/pFAST/TMA, and
his grasp of these projects impressed me once again. I am very glad to have him
to lean on when tough decisions have to be made. Talked with others about the
FDADs and coming ACDs. Spoke with Pete Trono about an accident at March, and OE/OD
reduction. Pete is from ZLA and our regional Safety Chairperson. He is a
workhorse, and before he’s done with the Safety Chair, I can guarantee the
Western Pacific Region will have the leading Safety Committee in the country. Spoke to Jim Garrett about grievance
issues, and spent about 35 minutes on the phone with Linda regarding the
aforementioned FSS deal. Now I need to go Christmas shopping. Schedule:
If I haven’t had a chance to tell you
already, I wish everyone the very best for this Holiday season and the coming
New Year. The Year End Update is almost done cooking, look for it next week. I
hope you enjoy it! Bob Marks
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Nation's
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The
Official Website of NATCA SCT Local is sct.natca.org National Air Traffic Controllers Association Southern California TRACON Local 9175 Kearny Villa Road San Diego, CA 92126 |
