Page:KAL801Finalreport.pdf/170

 Operations indicated that the new projected completion date for the installation of aural alarms in VFR towers was April 2000. In October 1998, the Safety Board expressed its concern to the FAA that VFR tower controllers who have visual representation from a distant host radar may not receive an aural alert when aircraft under their control, or with whom they are in radio communication, descend below the minimum safe altitude. The Board asked the FAA to ensure that all VFR tower controllers with visual representation from a host radar would in fact receive such warning. Pending further information from the FAA, Safety Recommendation A-95-120 was classified "Open--Acceptable Response."

On September 29, 1999, a representative from the FAA stated that the agency's management had indicated that the Agana tower was currently receiving aural MSAW alerts. At an October 7, 1999, briefing attended by the FAA Administrator, the Safety Board Chairman, and staff from both agencies, the FAA indicated that 69 MSAW aural alarms had been delivered and that 51 alarms were to be delivered. The FAA expected that the acquisition of these 51 alarms would be completed by October 2000 and that their installation in VFR towers would be completed by April 2001.

On October 12, 1999, the FAA Program Director for Serco Aviation Services told Safety Board staff that the Agana tower has the capability to receive an aural MSAW alert but that, unless the Guam CERAP transfers responsibility for the aircraft's data block, the tower will not receive the warning. The official added that the CERAP does not currently transfer responsibility for the aircraft's data block to the Agana tower; therefore, the tower does not receive an aural MSAW alert.

On October 14, 1999, the FAA Program Director for Air Traffic Operations confirmed that Agana tower was not receiving aural MSAW alerts. In an October 15, 1999, facsimile, the program director indicated that the tower "has the software and hardware capability in place to receive aural alarms." The director further stated that the FAA had issued a policy "to ensure that the facility that is in direct radio communications with the aircraft receives the aural alarm" and that the policy would become effective by November 15, 1999. In a followup telephone conversation with the Safety Board's Director of the Office of Aviation Safety, the program director indicated that a national policy would be issued to ensure that procedures similar to those being implemented at Guam are followed at other VFR towers.

On October 25, 1999, the FAA indicated that the MSAW aural alarms for the ARTS IIA system at Guam were reconfigured on October 24, 1999. The FAA stated that, in the event of a low-altitude alert for an aircraft operating in the vicinity of Guam International Airport, aural alarms will be simultaneously generated at the CERAP and the Agana tower, along with visual low-altitude alerts on the radar displays at both facilities.

On November 2, 1999, the Safety Board received a copy of draft FAA Notice N7210.485, "Minimum Safe Altitude Warning for Remote Tower Displays." According to the notice, facility managers at ATC towers that have aural alarms for MSAW are to ensure that "the operational support facility has adapted the software functionality to ensure the aural alarms operate in the ATCT [air traffic control tower]" and that "aural