Briefing of ATC (Updated)
 

Please help me in answering this question about using a medical information transfer practice to improve ATC changeover

Briefing of Air Traffic Controllers

Current Aviation Practice:
WEST (Weather, Equipment, Situation, Traffic)
REST 1 (Runway, Equipment, Station, Traffic)
REST 2 (Restrictions, Equipment, Situation, Traffic)

Proposed Medicine Information Transfer Practice 1: I PASS the BATON

Description:
I : Introduction - Introduce yourself and your role
P : Patient - personal identifiers
A : Assessment - presenting chief complaints and symptoms
S : Situation - current status and circumstances
S : Safety - critical reports and alerts
B : Background - previous episodes and family history
A : Actions - steps taken or required with rationale
T : Timing - urgency level and prioritization of actions
O : Ownership - medical personnel and family responsibilities
N : Next - anticipated changes and contingency plans

Application:
During changeover, air traffic controllers can utilize the I PASS the BATON mnemonic to transfer critical information from the outgoing ATC to the incoming ATC. First, the outgoing ATC will introduce himself/herself with the role inside the air traffic tower. Instead of patient, a summary of passenger planes will be explained followed by the primary concerns that the airport is experiencing. Other issues can also be explained here. The ATC will then move on to the overall current status of the airport operations such as arrival and takeoff rate. Any memorable events will also be highlighted and address the actions taken for resolution. Furthermore, list of important tasks will be presented and suggest possible prioritization such as immediate departures, possible emergency landings, or airport maintenance issues. Lastly, a breakdown of the responsibilities of the different controllers will be elaborated to prevent miscommunication and assign each one to guide incoming and outgoing flights. The transfer briefing will end with any anticipated interruptions with airport operations or any delays due to flight congestions.


* Do you think I PASS the BATON will work better than the current aviation information transfer practice (WEST, REST 1, REST 2) in the briefing of air traffic controllers?
YES / NO

* Please explain why you chose your selection:



Proposed Medicine Information Transfer Practice 2: Handover ABC

Description:
A : Areas and Allocation
B : Beds and Bugs
C : Colleagues and Consultants
D : Deaths and Disasters
E : Equipment and Events

Application:
During changeover, air traffic controllers can utilize the Handover ABC mnemonic to transfer critical information from the outgoing ATC to the incoming ATC. Areas and allocations will examine the different areas of the airport and determine proper allocations of ground staff personnel. Beds and Bugs is replaced by Bays and Bridges to create an even assignment of boarding gates and bay parkings. Colleagues and Controllers will mention the different personnel on duty and the availability of expertise when need arises. Deaths and Disasters will create a summary of any potential disruptions in the airport operations and prepare runways in case of incoming and outgoing disasters. Lastly, equipment and events will be noted to see which airport equipments are not in use or under maintenance. This will also include the availability of ground transportations in the case of bay-parked airplanes. The Handover ABC provides an overview of the entire airport as well as the movement and location of aircrafts.


* Do you think Handover ABC will work better than the current aviation information transfer practice (WEST, REST 1, REST 2) in the briefing of air traffic controllers?
YES / NO

* Please explain why you chose your selection:


* Which practice do you think has more potential of improving the transfer of information between air traffic controllers?
I PASS the BATON or Handover ABC

I agree why change something that isn't broken?

Has there suddenly been a spate of incidents that a change in handover/takeover procedure would have prevented?

In any case both seem too long for a handover in a busy tower/radar environment. For example I don't need to know the name of the atco I'm taking over from or his role as I've probably worked with him for 10 years and I wouldn't be taking over a position when I didn't know what sector it was already.

As for the abc one as you've described it I can't see why any atco at a tower needs to know that anyway that's the job of the airport authority.

What happened to PRAWN?

PRAWNS still used in TC...

Good. ATCOs are busy enough without making life harder.

WEST has adequately covered every single handover I've ever made in almost 12 years of air traffic. I see no reason to change it

Well Tentacles, that clearly identifies you as a HIAL ATCO....

W.....Weather.

E.....EG ETD.

S....SIGMETs, (both In force, and pending).

T....Traffic,....Now, where did that Loganair divert to?

:E

Ayr, just a bit of fun obviously. I can't remember what several letters in 'PRAWNS' stood for and I don't ever remember hearing about 'WEST', but I must have seen that notice.

It's one thing I would have enjoyed doing Ayr. Someone off my course did some time at EGPO, and it sounded like great fun. 'Local Hero' meets ATC.

I did 2 and a half years at PO - not sure I'd describe it as fun! I think my 3 off-spring are still scarred by the experience 36- 38 years later!

Unfortunately not, I'd love to be stuck at that end of the country - it's beautiful. I'm about as far south as you can go from there

It is indeed. Enjoyed my time up on the SW coastal bit, and would love to have stayed longer. Had great fun down in Bournemouth too though, albeit a long time ago. Wx is better, down there, and you do get more thunderstorms to avoid.