Section 4. Recorders
3-4-1. USE OF
RECORDERS
a. Air
traffic facilities must record operational communications to the maximum
extent practicable.
b. Record at
each operating position to include all data transmitted and/or received
via radio, telephone, VSCS, or automated means such as Mode S, Data Link,
and satellite. Facility management must advise operating positions when
the recording equipment associated with these positions is not operating
or otherwise unavailable for recording. Facility management must then
ensure that a written record, or equivalent, to the extent possible, is
made for all IFR clearances.
c. If
combined positions are periodically split into individual positions,
record them on separate channels when so used.
d. Supervisors
must ensure that the proper FAA/telephone company (TELCO) “jacks” are used
to obtain the required recording at facilities with dual capability.
e. Use a
separate channel on each recorder to record time at facilities with
time-announce systems. Where these systems have not been installed, a
spare receiver tuned to a time transmitting station may be used.
f. Operational
voice recorders must be provided a time source.
g. Except as
noted in para 3-4-2, Assignment of Recorder Channels, record with regard
to the position in lieu of the function. All headset audio on a position
must be recorded on a single channel. In facilities so equipped, all
FAA-speaker audio must be recorded on the “radio only” jack channel. If a
“radio only” jack is not available, another channel may be used.
h. Reserve
one channel of each recorder for recording time; except two channels must
be reserved on the FA5394, 30-channel recorder. If a coded time source and
a time code reader are available, record the coded time source in
preference to voice time announcements. Recording more than one time
source on any recorder is prohibited.
i. Each FSS
collocated with an ARTCC will use the center's voice recorder system
resources to minimize requirements for spare parts, test equipment, and
routine maintenance.
j. Recorders
may be used to monitor any position for evaluation, training, or quality
control purposes.
k. Air
traffic managers should develop procedures to ensure that frequencies are
not recorded when facilities are officially closed.
3-4-2. ASSIGNMENT OF RECORDER
CHANNELS
a. Assign
position recording channels in the following order of priority:
1. ARTCCs:
(a) Radar
controller.
(b) Sector
controller.
(c) Radar
handoff controller.
(d) Radio
controller.
(e) Coordinator.
(f) Supervisor.
(g) Traffic
Manager.
(h) Flight
data.
(i) Data
systems coordinator.
(j) Mission
coordinator.
(k) AMIS
controller.
2. Terminals:
(a) Arrival
control.
(b) Departure
control.
(c) Local
control.
(d) Precision
approach radar.
(e) Clearance
delivery.
(f) Ground
control.
(g) Inbound
flight data.
(h) Outbound
flight data.
(i) Direction-finding.
(j) Supervisory.
(k) Automatic terminal information services (ATIS) - air traffic
managers must designate a channel to record ATIS when a separate channel
is not available. Record the ATIS message once at the time of preparation
on the designated channel. Make a written record of each ATIS and retain
for 15 days if a recorded channel is not available.
3. FSSs:
(a) Flight
watch.
(b) Inflight.
(c) Preflight.
(d) Flight
data.
(e) Supervisory.
4. ATCSCC:
(a) National
Operations Manager (NOM).
(b) National
Traffic Management Officer (NTMO).
(c) National
Traffic Management Specialist (NTMS) operating position.
b. You may
use existing remaining spare recording channels to record the primary
radio frequencies of positions using the same priority stated above.
3-4-3. CHECKING AND
CHANGING RECORDING EQUIPMENT
a. At En
Route facilities and the ATCSCC, Technical Operations personnel must be
responsible for checking and changing recorder tapes, digital audio tapes
(DAT), and Digital Audio Legal Recorders (DALR).
REFERENCE-
(Analog) FAAO JO 6670.4, Maintenance of Multichannel Recorder
Equipment,
or
(Digital) FAAO JO 6670.13, Maintenance of Digital Voice Recorder (DVR)
Equipment and FAAO JO 6670.15, Maintenance of Digital Voice Recorder
System Series II (DVR II) Equipment.
b. At
terminal and flight service facilities:
1. Where
recorders are not convenient to operating quarters, the facility air
traffic manager and the Technical Operations local manager must develop an
agreement assigning the responsibility for checking and changing recorder
tapes, DATs, and DALRs.
2. Where
recorders are convenient to operating quarters, air traffic personnel must
perform recorder checks.
c. If air
traffic personnel check and change tapes, DATs, or DALRs, the facility air
traffic manager must ensure that personnel are trained in the proper
methods to be used.
d. Recorder
monitor operation checks on analog voice recorder systems must be
performed daily and must not exceed 26 hours between checks. Procedures
for monitoring operations in analog recorders are described in FAAO JO
6670.4, Maintenance of Multichannel Recorder Equipment.
1. On a
daily basis (not to exceed 26 hours), validate the Nicelog supervision
window for alarms, and verify normal operation of equipment on digital
audio tapes.
2. Indicate
accomplishments of checks on FAA Form 7230-4, Facility Record of
Operation.
e. At
facilities using DALR:
1. On a
daily basis (not to exceed 26 hours), validate the Castle Rock SNMPc
window for the alarms, and verify normal operation of the DALR system.
2. Document
the accomplishment of the check on FAA Form 7230-4, Facility Record of
Operation.
3-4-4. HANDLING RECORDER TAPES,
DATs, OR DALR STORAGE
a. Place the
following information on each reel or DAT storage case before storage:
1. The
recorder number.
2. The date
and the time UTC.
3. The
initials of the person changing the reel.
b. Retain
the tapes or DATs for 45 days, and ensure the DALR .wav file is set to
retain recordings for 45 days, except:
1. En route
facility utilizing system analysis recording tapes as their radar
retention media (regardless of the type of voice recorder system being
used) must retain voice recordings for 15 days.
2. Those facilities utilizing an analog voice recorder system must
retain voice recordings for 15 days.
3. The David
J. Hurley Air Traffic Control System Command Center must retain voice
recordings for 15 days.
4. Accidents: Retain
the tapes, DATs, or DALRs in accordance with FAAO 8020.11, Aircraft
Accident and Incident Notification, Investigation and Reporting.
5. Incidents: Retain
the tapes, DATs, or DALRs in accordance with FAAO 8020.11, Aircraft
Accident and Incident Notification, Investigation, and Reporting; and FAAO
1350.15, Records Organization, Transfer, and Destruction Standards.
6. Hijacking: Retain
all relevant tapes, DATs, or DALRs of hijackings from the time
communication commences with the aircraft until communication has
terminated. After 3 years, contact System Safety and Procedures for the
release of the tapes, DATs, or DALRs. In every case, a release from System
Safety and Procedures is required to return hijack tapes, DATs, or DALRs
to service.
7. Tarmac
Delay: When a facility is notified that an aircraft has or may have
exceeded the “Three/FourHour Tarmac Rule,” retain voice recordings
relevant to the event for 1 year.
3-4-5. VSCS DATA
RETENTION
a. Retain
the VSCS cassette, disc, and tape recordings and data
communications/console typewriter printouts for 15 days unless they are
related to an accident/incident as defined in accordance with FAAO 1350.15,
Records Organization, Transfer, and Destruction Standards, Chapter 11,
Section 8020.
b. If a
request is received to retain the VSCS communications traffic listings and
the system configuration and/or mapping data following an accident, the
printout of the relative data will suffice, and the VSCS cassette, disc,
and/or tape may then be returned to service through the normal rotational
cycle. The printout data are considered a permanent record and must be
retained in accordance with aircraft accident/incident retention
requirements. Reduction of the VSCS cassette, disc, and tape recordings to
hard-copy format must be made at the earliest time convenient to the
facility involved without derogating the ATC function and without
prematurely taking the VSCS out of ATC service. Do not make these data and
printouts a part of the accident/incident package.
c. If a
request is received to retain a specific data recording and the data is
available and contained on VSCS cassette, disc, and/or tape, the VSCS
cassette, disc, and/or tape must be retained in its entirety. If the data
requested is contained on several different media (e.g., VSCS cassette,
disc, and/or tape media), the facility may transfer all pertinent data to
a common media and label the media a Duplicate Original. After successful
transfer, the original VSCS cassette, disc, and/or tape may be returned to
service through the normal rotational cycle. However, if a specific
request is received to retain the original VSCS cassette, disc, and/or
tape, the original VSCS cassette, disc, and/or tape must be retained in
its entirety.
d. Treat the
VSCS cassette, disc, tape, duplicate originals, and data
communications/console typewriter printouts related to hijack aircraft the
same as voice recorder tapes. (See para 3-4-4, Handling Recorder Tapes or
DATs). |
