Appendix D. Standard Operating Practice (SOP)
for
the Transfer of Position Responsibility
1. PURPOSE
This appendix prescribes the method and step-by-step process for conducting a position relief briefing
and transferring position responsibility from one
specialist to another.
2. DISCUSSION
a. In all operational facilities, the increase in
traffic density and the need for the expeditious
movement of traffic without compromising safety
have emphasized the importance of the position relief
process.
b. The contents, methods, and practices used for
position relief and briefings vary among personnel,
and pertinent information is often forgotten or
incompletely covered. Major problems occur
whenever there is a heavy reliance upon memory,
unsupported by routines or systematic reminders.
This SOP addresses the complete task of transferring
position responsibility and the associated relief
briefing.
c. Position relief unavoidably provides workload
for specialists at the time of relief. The intent of this
SOP is to make the transfer of position responsibility
take place smoothly and to ensure a complete transfer
of information with a minimum amount of workload.
The method takes advantage of a self-briefing
concept in which the relieving specialist obtains
needed status information by reading from the Status
Information Area/s to begin the relief process. Up to
the moment information related to the control of
aircraft or vehicular movements requires verbal
exchanges between specialists during the relief
process. The method also specifies the moment when
the transfer of position responsibility occurs.
d. In the final part of the relief process, the
specialist being relieved monitors and reviews the
position to ensure that nothing has been overlooked
or incorrectly displayed and that the transfer of
position responsibility occurred with a complete
briefing.
3. TERMS
The following terms are important for a complete
understanding of this SOP:
a. Status Information Area (SIA). Manual or
automatic displays of the current status of position
related equipment and operational conditions or
procedures.
b. Written Notes. Manually recorded items of
information kept at designated locations on the
position of operation. They may be an element of the
Status Information Area/s.
c. Checklist. An ordered listing of items to be
covered during a position relief.
4. PRECAUTIONS
a. Specialists involved in the position relief
process should not rush or be influenced to rush.
b. During position operation, each item of status
information which is or may be an operational factor
for the relieving specialist should be recorded as soon
as it is operationally feasible so that it will not be
forgotten or incorrectly recorded.
c. Extra care should be taken when more than one
specialist relieves or is being relieved from a position
at the same time; e.g., combining or decombining
positions. Such simultaneous reliefs should be
approached with caution.
5. RESPONSIBILITIES
a. The specialist being relieved shall be
responsible for ensuring that any pertinent status
information of which he/she is aware is relayed to the
relieving specialist and is either:
1. Accurately displayed in the Status
Information Area/s for which he/she has
responsibility, or
2. Relayed to the position having responsibility
for accurately displaying the status information.
b. The relieving specialist shall be responsible for
ensuring that, prior to accepting responsibility for the
position, any unresolved questions pertaining to the
operation of the position are resolved.
c. The relieving specialist and the specialist being
relieved shall share equal responsibility for the
completeness and accuracy of the position relief
briefing.
d. The specialists engaged in a position relief shall
conduct the relief process at the position being
relieved unless other procedures have been
established and authorized by the facility air traffic
manager.
NOTE-
The "sharing" of this responsibility means that the
specialist being relieved is obligated to provide a complete,
accurate briefing and the relieving specialist is obligated
to ensure that a briefing takes place and is to his/her total
satisfaction.
6. STEP-BY-STEP PROCESS
a. PREVIEW THE POSITION
Relieving Specialist
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Specialist Being Relieved
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1. Follow checklist and review the Status Information
Area(s).
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NOTE-
This sub-step may be replaced by an authorized pre-position briefing provided an equivalent review of checklist items is
accomplished.
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2. Observe position equipment, operational situation, and
the work environment.
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3. Listen to voice communications and observe other
operational actions.
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4. Observe current and pending aircraft and vehicular
traffic and correlate with flight and other movement
information.
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5. Indicate to the specialist being relieved that the position
has been previewed and that the verbal briefing may begin.
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NOTE-
Substeps 6a2, 3, and 4 may be conducted concurrently or in any order.
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b. VERBAL BRIEFING
Relieving Specialist
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Specialist Being Relieved
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1. Brief the relieving specialist on the abnormal status of
items not listed on the Status Information Area(s) as well as
on any items of special interest calling for verbal
explanation or additional discussion.
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2. Brief on traffic if applicable.
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3. Ask questions necessary to ensure a complete
understanding of the operational situation.
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4. Completely answer any questions asked.
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c. ASSUMPTION OF POSITION RESPONSIBILITY
Relieving Specialist
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Specialist Being Relieved
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1. Make a statement or otherwise indicate to the specialist
being relieved that position responsibility has been
assumed.
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2. Release the position to the relieving specialist and
mentally note the time.
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d. REVIEW THE POSITION
Relieving Specialist
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Specialist Being Relieved
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1. Check, verify, and update the information obtained in
steps 6a and b.
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2. Check position equipment in accordance with existing
directives.
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3. Review checklist, Status Information Area/s, written
notes, and other prescribed sources of information and
advise the relieving specialist of known omissions, updates,
or inaccuracies.
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4. Observe overall position operation to determine if
assistance is needed.
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5. If assistance is needed, provide or summon it as
appropriate.
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6. Advise the appropriate position regarding known Status
Information Area(s) omissions, updates, or inaccuracies.
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7. Sign-on the relieving specialist with the time as noted in
step 6c2.
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8. Sign off the position in accordance with existing
directives or otherwise indicate that the relief process is
complete.
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