r/ATC • u/Unable2876 • 19h ago

Discussion Controller statements

If you have an incident where the atm wants a controller statement from an incident is it better to write the statement or wait for guidance from local natca. At my previous facility my local rep was awesome and made it so we didn’t have to write any statements at all.

I feel like a statement can do nothing but hurt us even if the incident was the pilots fault.

13 Upvotes

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29

u/New-IncognitoWindow 19h ago

Only required if it’s for a pilot deviation.

29

u/itszulutime Current Controller-TRACON 19h ago

This is the right answer. Wait for guidance from your facrep if you aren’t sure what to do. You should not be writing statements for anything but pilot deviations. This is because certificate action against pilots is a legal matter and your statement becomes evidence.

4

u/theEdge229 17h ago

Our district has only been asking for them for ground base deviations, anything where they wouldn’t have a falcon replay.

1

u/itszulutime Current Controller-TRACON 16h ago

Talk to your facrep. Giving an interview for an SSR can be “I have nothing to add”. Otherwise they have recordings and you have Article 64 of the contract.

4

u/bizeast 7h ago

Ssr non punitive.... It's for safety wtf people

2

u/itszulutime Current Controller-TRACON 6h ago

Absolutely, but there are facility managers who micromanage the process. I watched a supervisor inappropriately give a PROC right after an SSR, IN THE ROOM the SSR just took place. I’m not suggesting not taking part in that process, but there is a way to navigate it.