BURT-I hope I never have to use it for real

[BEXIL160]

BURT for those not at LACC Swanwick is the Back Up RT, to be used when the the main RT systems fail.

At LATCC, and even now in Terminal Control, the back up RT facility is provided by a shiny RED handset fixed above the sector on which it is to be used. There is usually a choice of TWO frequencies for that sector selected by pressing a big button for each.

Compare the operation of the RED handset with that of BURT.

RED handset:. . .1) Remove hanset from cradle. .2) Check correct Frequency selected. .3) Press switch on handle to Tx.

Now BURT:. .1)Gain access to BURT Workstation Access Panel (WAP) lift the lid on the RH front edge of the workstation surface.. .2)Insert the plug of a headset into the socket provided.. .3)Wait for dial tone. .4)Within 15 seconds of inserting the headset plug, enter all of the digits of the required frequency-omitting the decimal point-using the keypad on the top of the WAP.. .5)On hearing an acknowledgement tone, press the grey "Access" key of the top face of the WAP.. .6)When the equipment has completed the exchange of tones, the equipment will be in "recieve" mode. A confidence tone is generated every 10 seconds.. .7) (at last!) Tx may now be made by operating the red "RT" key on the top face of the WAP

but theres more....... .If at any stage you fail to follow the instructions exactly, which given the fact that if you actually have to use BURT is fairly likely, and there is no display of the numbers you actually dialled, then you must:

8) Press the grey "RESET" key on the top of the WAP for 3 seconds or more.. .9) Remove and replace the headset plug into the socket on the WAP, allowing an interval of 3 seconds between removal and replacement.. .10) Start again from the top.

This is not a wind-up. Comments anyone? And will some LACC operational people like to confirm that that I'm telling the truth 'cos I don't think many people will believe me (Ta)

Rgds BEX

[zonoma]

All sounds right from here Bex, and to add, just putting the frequency in as we know it usually doesn't work. Being non-8.33 in London doesn't mean some frequencies don't have six digits, ie. Hurn West 129.425 . You have to put ALL digits in for it to work. But some freq's that end in '00' only need the first four entering, it just depends on what the system has been programmed to. And all of these are obviously listed........... <img src="eek.gif" border="0"> <img src="eek.gif" border="0"> <img src="eek.gif" border="0"> <img src="eek.gif" border="0">

[Scott Voigt]

BEXIL;

You are going to HATE to hear what our backup is &lt;G&gt;... We have a completly backed up air to ground and ground to ground switch on it's own UPS. When power comes back on to the building and or radio site, you switch plugs that your headset is plugged into and keep plugging away with your traffic. The only bad thing is that you have to plug in at the assistant position. The reason that we did that at our facility is that you only have control of one set of video displays for your communications suite. I determined along with other controllers that the button pushing on the video screen was done by the assitant controller to talk with other sectors. If you are just using radios, you just push the button on your pickle switch and talk.

regards

[BDiONU]

Pl

[BDiONU]

DOH! Darned Computers!!! What I was going to say is:. .Please correct me if I'm wrong but:

The Red Button R/T back up at LATCC had only two specific frequencies per red button. So if you had a failure and were band boxed on the other side of the room, you had to run across to use the radio?. .At LACC BURT can be used for any frequency at any workstation.

BURT is a totally separate radio system, not linked into the rest of the LACC, unlike the red buttons at LATCC. So in the event of a catastrophic failure you are, at least, able to clear the sky's. It has never been intended to be used to actually control.

I agree that its initially 'fiddly' to set up, but practice makes perfect!. .I doubly agree about the lack of a small LCD screen to show what you've input.

[BEXIL160]

Take3 etc..

Ref L(A)TCC. Two frequencies are all you're likely to need, and your example of being bandboxed elsewhere only happens at night. Running across the ops room isn't a big deal as at least when you get to the other side all you have to do is grab the handset and talk..... unlike BURT. NODEL is also very likely to remain as it was left, I.E. available for IMMEDIATE use, unlike LACC workstations which aren't.

My point is this. If I ever get to the stage where the use of the STBY radio is required it's use should be instinctive and EASY. The RED handsets are simple to use, BURT is demonstably not. Setting up BURT takes time, when you can least afford it.

A design ERROR as it doesn't take into account human factors.

Rgds BEX

[hatsoff]

Bex you're absolutely correct.. .No *primary* emergency system should be that complicated.

[NERC Dweller]

As Take3Call5 has said BURT is totally independent of the rest of the Swanwick system.

This means that BURT has no idea what sector is operating at that suite, bearing in mind that you can operate any sector from any position. So you have to dial in the frequency you want, just like you dial a telephone.

If there are problems with how the numbers have been set up, trailing zeros or not then raise an observation. Of course getting a consensus out of ATC on whether to have the trailing zeros or not could be difficult <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

[BEXIL160]

Granted, but the explanation doesn't answer my point. BURT is VERY difficult to use. As a back-up safety device it should be intuitive as it is likely to be used in situations of high stress for the user.

Example: Using a fire extinguisher is a fairly simple task. On CO2/water (The RED ones), commonly Strike knob to operate (ooooch!) is all you do to set it off. It does not require you to enter a code of uncertain length on a keypad that has no display.

Faith in the LACC safety observation system is rapidly declining as little seems to be done when one is raised. And thats the point. Failure to communicate that things are being improved will lead to the system coming into disrepute. Faults reported as MORs seem to get more attention (cos they go External?).

Rgds BEX

[BDiONU]

All observations (tagged safety or not) are logged on the database and sent to the appropriate person for action. They are also ALL discussed at the Expert Review Group meetings. They are ALL pursued for closure. They are ALL subject to audit by safety and quality and SRG have an interest. A printed copy of a weekly summary is available in the EBS or you can ask the helpdesk to look up a specific observation to see what progress has been made. Alternatively I believe the PC's for 'public' use in the EBS have access to the Swanwick 'R' drive where you can find all the observations since 'O' date in the ATC Systems Development/Helpdesk folder. There's no secrets.. .If you submit an MOR (1261 action) then the helpdesk do not enter an observation because 1261 action has its own path. It may generally be true that 1261's get a quick response because they are very obviously safety related and fix's are deemed urgent. At the moment, due to the backlog, the engineers are only ploughing through the data for certain observations up until the 12th Feb. Not all observations require this data though. When the helpdesk are notified of an observation which undoubtedly impinges on safety (in anyone's book) action does happen fast. For example, yesterday several tracks converged on a beacon and when they separated on the other side a callsign had changed. This was immediately brought up with ATC Systems who approached a resolution 3 ways. 1) By extracting the SAR data from tape 2) By tracking the data from NAS inputs and 3) By requiring a replay of the sector at that time (replays show EVERYTHING which has happened on a workstation, windows opened, mouse cursor position, phone calls etc.) It was quickly determined that the ATSA position on LMS had changed the callsign in NAS.. .Often it appears that controllers tick the safety box as a matter of course for any observation. For example having a headache. How can this be safety related? If an ATCO is unfit to control, for whatever reason, then its their duty to remove themselves from controlling. Once the Watch Supervisor is informed its a management problem. I could only see this being safety related if the controller decided to struggle on exercising the privilges of their licence whilst unfit to do so. So the Expert Review Group and the QA & Safety team have to sort the wheat from the chaff.. .As to other observations not being 'fixed' fast enough. Well we are working as quickly as we can but there's only so much can be done at one time. NAS patches are full up until June at the moment. And not every observation will get the observers desired resolution, because one mans meat is another mans poison. Change something for one person and you can bet a host of others will complain they liked things as they were. Consensus (as pointed out by NERC Dweller) amongst ATCO's is a rare beast indeed.

[BEXIL160]

As ever a robust and resolute defence of all things NERC.

Thank you for your explanation of what happens. I say again however, the system is falling into disrepute as it appears that little is done. Saying that the info is available is not COMMUNICATING. Telling orignator what has be done would be.

I disagree. Reporting symptoms of headaches that are suspected of being caused by the Workstation displays is a possible Safety issue, not a mere management one.

To come back to the original issue. BURT should be as easy to use as possible. It isn't by your own admission.

bye bye. .BEX

[Cavemonster]

Take3.. and Swk people. .Just need to point out for any Swanwick geek types out there who may try and access the R drive as described: operational Joe ATCO/SA can't do so unless their logon has been specifically enabled.

[sony backhander]

Take3-how often do you get out of your cosy office? You seem very pleased with Nerc,do you ever actually use it in anger? Down on planet earth in the ops room (next to the tdu,heard of it?)Atco's with reponsibilty for people's lives have genuine concerns about real issues.

[BDiONU]

Bexil. .. .I would love to have the time to devote to chasing the originators of observations to report on their progress or resolution, but I don't. Apart from not knowing people's leave, when on watch etc. etc. there are simply not enough of us to do it. That is why we expect the people who raise the observations to actually ask how things are going and why the summary sheets are available in the EBS room. One assumes they have sufficient interest to find out what happened to their observation?. .. .Sony Backhander. .I currently do not work in an office, I work in the Ops room. I am part of the team that fields observations and problems with the system and assists 'hands on' when people encounter 'trouble'. So I feel quite justified in my belief that the LACC system works, I see the traffic being moved on a day to day basis.. .. .But I should make it clear that its not the system which is moving traffic. Its the people who operate it, the ATCO/SA's. They have done (and are doing) a fantastic job under trying circumstances ( a new environment and a new operating system) and I take my hat off to them all.

[BEXIL160]

Take3etc..... .. .You do not need to know peoples dispostion to reply to them in writing. A brief reply is NOT too much to ask for when filing an OPSOB, or is it? Indeed "keeping the customer informed" is one of Swanwick's much lauded Core Values..... except when it's too difficult or too time consuming apparently.. .. .When a CA 1261 (MOR) is filed, there will be at the very least an acknowledgement from I&I. . .. .The Hard copy of OPSOBS you speak of in the Briefing room is not complete and has not been for several weeks.. .. .BEX

[Hydroforming Bushmaster]

BEX. .. .I totally agree with you (for a change). The whole process has only been half thought through. . .. .I'd go so far as to say that this reflects the attitude in general at Swanwick. Lots of emphasis on the mechanics and little emphasis on the people aspects of the operation. Shame!