Drag and Vector for Officers on Tower

Features
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Why add D&V to Tower in the first place?

  • You can manage traffic using pattern entry and sequencing commands, but this is not as easy or fast as using vectors. With a small delay vectors, you can control the spacing between aircrafts, so there is just enough time to take-off or back-taxi for the aircraft ahead.
  • You can’t open the Tower and Radar simultaneously. Sometimes it’s not worth opening the Radar position for just one wave, for the whole hour, by another controller.

Why only for Officers?

  • Officers have more experience. They have completed radar training and are able to manage traffic using D&V. As for me, Specialists should not be controlling so much traffic without Radar assistance.

How does this differ from the opening GTADS of Supervisors?

  • You still control only the Tower position, without Radar, and within Tower airspace.

Other things to mention

  • You don’t have to use vectors. If the airport and traffic allow it, you can simply use pattern entry and sequence commands.
  • You still can request Radar relief. This feature doesn’t replace Radar position, but it just makes it easier to control and increases efficiency on small waves.
  • The Tower can (but not have to) take on the final radar workload, while the actual Radar will be the initial one. This is especially useful when there are not enough controllers online.
  • Specialists can have Drag and Vector for measuring purposes only
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Voted! I would love to see this feature.

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3

Voted! Would be awesome if we had this in the near future!!

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Generally speaking, local controllers do not issue vectors or assigned headings. At best, they can offer a suggested heading. Should a heading be issued—which predominantly occurs on departure or for IFR aircraft—it is coordinated with the supporting radar facility or SOP.

3.5.3 in the AIM states:

To provide a direction or suggested heading. The local controller may provide pilots flying VFR with generalized instructions which will facilitate operations; e.g., “PROCEED SOUTHWEST BOUND, ENTER A RIGHT DOWNWIND RUNWAY THREE ZERO;” or provide a suggested heading to establish radar identification or as an advisory aid to navigation; e.g., “SUGGESTED HEADING TWO TWO ZERO, FOR RADAR IDENTIFICATION.” In both cases, the instructions are advisory aids to the pilot flying VFR and are not radar vectors. PILOTS HAVE COMPLETE DISCRETION REGARDING ACCEPTANCE OF THE SUGGESTED HEADING OR DIRECTION AND HAVE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY FOR SEEING AND AVOIDING OTHER AIRCRAFT.

It’s a good idea, but it’s not practical or in accordance with real-world standards.

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