Originally Posted by
hans brinker
The LC does deserve credit for staying calm.
AFAIK there are no approaches for 30L or 30R, so other than turning the whole airport around, there was no way to vector him for an approach. I think if the LC would have given more positive control, assigned heading altitude and speed until short final, this would have been a much shorter video, but I don't know is the LC is authorized/able to do that.
Yes, the LC did remain calm but her frustration was audible (justified). Regarding available approaches, the only instrument approaches are to the 12 runways. However, if you listen to the extended version, the only other aircraft in the Class D were an inbound helo and an aircraft on the ground with IFR release being held until GTT could stick the landing. Thus, sending GTT off to the NW for an instrument approach would appear to have had minimal impact on airport ops and may have expedited the departure of the waiting aircraft. If I counted correctly, our intrepid aviator finally reunited with terra firma on the 5th attempt.
Regarding the LC asserting more positive control, as I recall there was an extended debate about the duties/capabilities/responsibilities of Class D ATC in the May 2021 KAPA mid-air collision. Don’t recall if there was a consensus.