APPENDIX
13. OPERATIONAL ERROR/DEVIATION HANDLING
PROCEDURES AND RETURN TO OPERATIONAL DUTY
1.
All
Surface Errors, MVA/Obstruction, Oceanic errors, IFR vs. VFR and/or
all Terminal
errors on final; where the separation requirement is 1.0nm, 1.5nm or
2.0nm; shall
be handled in accordance with FAA Order 7210.56 paragraph 5-1-9,
Return to Operational Duty. The 80% rule does not apply to these types
of errors and as a minimum the following shall be accomplished:
a.
Conduct an in-depth review with all involved employees.
b.
Identify
all deficiencies.
c.
Document
the discussion.
d.
Assess
performance; decertify and provide remedial training if performance
history warrants such action, or provide skill enhancement training as
needed and document in the employees’ training record (do not
reference the error in the training jacket).
e.
When
it is appropriate for the employee to return to duty, administer a
skill check prior to return to operational duties.
Skill enhancement training may be provided before or after the
involved employee(s) have returned to duty.
Conduct a 30-day follow-up performance skill check with all
involved employees’.
2.
At
all EARTS facility’s AND/OR any En-route or Terminal error that
occurs and radar data is not immediately available to review and all
indications are that at least 80% separation minima was maintained
and/or AAT-200 is unable to
provide a severity classification within 1-hour of notification shall be handled as a Low
Severity for initial return to duty.
If radar data later becomes available and the event is then
classified as a moderate or high severity, then post event skill
enhancement or decertification/remedial training may be accomplished
as outlined below.
3.
All
Operational Deviations shall be handled as a Low Severity, as outlined
below.
4.
Any
Operational Error determined to be a Low Severity:
a.
The employee shall be provided a reasonable opportunity to
participate in the preliminary investigation.
b.
As soon as the preliminary investigation is complete, all
employees’ found to be contributory or primary to the Low
Severity/Operational Deviation (controlled or uncontrolled) shall
be returned to duty WITHOUT a Return to Duty (RTD) skill check or
the 30-day follow-up skill check.
c.
If
the Low Severity/Operational Deviation was "uncontrolled"
(per AAT-20) and performance warrants, skill enhancement
training may be provided
after the employee(s) has been returned to duty.
d.
If
the Low Severity or Operational Deviation was “controlled”
(per AAT-20), skill enhancement training shall
not be accomplished.
e.
The
employees’ first-line supervisor shall conduct an in-depth review of
the event with the employee as soon as possible/practical, but after
the employee has returned to operational duty.
f.
The employees’ first line supervisor shall discuss any
identified performance deficiencies.
g.
The
employees’ first line supervisor may document the discussion, but
keep in mind this document shall not be used for any future return to
duty preparation.
h.
In
the event that the classification is later determined to be moderate
or severe, skill enhancement training may be assigned and the
corresponding documentation will be retained per normal retention
requirements.
5.
Any
Operational Error that is determined to be Moderate:
a.
The
employee shall be provided a reasonable opportunity to participate in
the preliminary investigation.
b.
The
employees’ first-line supervisor shall conduct an in-depth review of
the event with the employee as soon as possible/practical.
c.
The
employees’ first-line supervisor shall discuss/address any
identified performance deficiencies.
d.
The employees’ first-line supervisor shall document the
discussion.
e.
Skill enhancement training may be administered for any
identified performance issues and/or; decertification may only occur,
if prior documented performance history warrants such action.
f.
If decertification occurs, then remedial training shall be
administered.
g.
A
skill check IS required prior to any return to operational duties and
a 30-day follow-up skill check shall occur.
6.
Any
Operational Error that is determined to be High:
a.
The
employee shall be provided a reasonable opportunity to participate in
the preliminary investigation.
b.
The
employees’ first-line supervisor shall conduct an in-depth review of
the event with the employee as soon as possible/practical.
c.
The
employees’ first-line supervisor shall discuss/address any identified
performance deficiencies.
d.
The
employees’ first-line supervisor shall document the discussion.
e.
Skill
enhancement training, shall be administered for any identified
performance issues and/or:
f.
Decertification may occur if proper documented performance
history warrants such action.
g.
If
decertification occurs then remedial training shall be administered.
h.
A
skill check IS required prior to return to operational duties and a
30-day follow-up skill check shall occur.
7.
Additionally, please keep these factors in mind:
The severity index was
designed to assess the severity of the error and may not adequately
reflect actual employee performance.
So, based upon the facility’s review of performance and/or if
an isolated event is so grievous that it leads you to question the
employees’ overall ability to safely perform their duties
("prevent the collision between aircraft" and "organize
and expedite the flow of traffic safely"), as a minimum skill
enhancement training or decertification with remedial training may be
accomplished, based on the individuals documented performance history
(except for controlled low severity or operational deviations).
If the employees’ known performance deficiencies were not
properly documented (TTD's, supervisory notes or other documents) you
may not use this "snapshot" or isolated incident, as the sole
determining factor for decertification and administering remedial
training.
|