1.         Introduction

1.1        MATS Part 1 requires that “the ATC watch log be signed by the Watch Supervisor or Senior Controller On Duty.” For some time now the Guild has been receiving input from its members about the use of Senior Controllers on Duty (SCOD). 

1.2       There appears to be no hard and fast rule as to what constitutes a SCOD. At some units the SCOD is used on the rare occasions when a Watch Supervisor/Watch Manager is not available. At other units, the SCOD is just that, the Senior person on duty.   

2.         Situation 

2.1       The primary responsibilities of the SCOD are the same whether at a large en-route centre or a small one controller GA airfield, namely the safe and efficient running of the watch.

2.2       Some air traffic service providers view the task as being a management responsibility, involving supervision, manning, health and safety and flow management responsibilities. At other units, the SCOD is merely the senior rostered controller (who may not have much seniority at all) and they act
only in lieu of an ATC supervisor/ATC Manager on operational matters.

2.3       In many cases the controllers nominated are senior representatives of the
management and they have received training, have clearly stated
responsibilities and have a source of reference documentation to assist
them. In other cases however, the SCOD is merely allotted the task by the
vagaries of the watch roster and the rostered SCOD may have very little
seniority at all. Whilst many units take a very professional approach to
allocating SCOD responsibilities, others are less thorough. It is this lack
of standardisation that has concerned the Guild.

2.4       Another issue is that the manning at some units is such that the only controller on duty may be the SCOD, which rather makes a mockery of the rules on suspension and investigation of an incident.

2.5       At most units the SCOD is responsible for health and safety, security and complying with company policy on such matters as press relations. At small units the SCOD may be responsible for operations and administration of the aerodrome. All this in addition to ATC duties.

3.         Discussion

3.1       Primary responsibility of a SCOD should extend only to matters relating to safety. Staff issues would only fall within the SCOD's remit if these directly impacted the safe provision of service. Situations such as an ATCO or ATSA on duty under the influence of alcohol or non-prescription drugs, or an ATCO going home sick and the consequent need to reduce service (bandbox positions, suspend LARS, close GMP or GMC, and perhaps impose ATFM). All staff, irrespective of grade share H + S responsibility together with a general Duty of Care. These issues do not reside solely with a SCOD (or even management staff), applying equally to a Tactical controller at LACC or a Tower controller at say, Oxford.

3.2       The SCOD, whether a fully trained Watch Supervisor at a major en-route centre or single Controller at a small GA aerodrome, should be adequately trained for the task and be provided with appropriate guidance material. Although there is passing reference in ESARR5 to this subject, for the present it doesn't seem to be a requirement and does not feature in CAP 744.  Thus, policy is left to the ATS provider and may even be devolved down to individual units. For example, the Group Supervisors at LTCC receive training, as do the Local Areas Supervisors at LACC. However, do the watch managers at regional airports and airfields receive any formal training prior to appointment and being rostered solo in the role? And where and by whom is the common core syllabus specified and against what performance/knowledge criteria is the
individual assessed for competence in the role?  

3.3       The responsibilities of a SCOD need to be defined in the Unit Safety Case
(they should not however, have any safety accountabilities, as this is
inappropriate to what is in effect, a generic position/role).

 3.4      ATC watch rosters should specify the SCOD as Watch Supervisor, Deputy WS or senior qualified controller on duty.

4.        Recommendation

4.1       The Senior Controller On Duty should be the Watch Supervisor or qualified nominated deputy.

4.2       In the absence of a Watch Supervisor, the senior most qualified controller trained for the task should be nominated SCOD. The SCOD should be clearly annotated on the Watch roster.

4.3       All ATC supervisory staff (SCODs, Watch Managers, Watch Supervisors and
their deputies) should have received appropriate training and demonstrated adequate knowledge and appropriate interpersonal skills such that they can be deemed to be 'qualified' for the task. The level of knowledge and interpersonal skills necessary should be appropriate for the unit and/or task involved.

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