Mike,
Don't quote me because I'm not 100% sure but I don't think towers issue violations. All we do is forward the info on to ops and they probably contact fsdo and they handle it from there. I would imagine that COntract towers follow the same protocol
Can a non-federal control tower issue violations/pilot dev's like an FAA tower can?
For what its worth, when I was talking to the tower controllers (FAA) at MRI, they told me that if someone gets in trouble, they fill out a form and pass it up the chain of command, I'd assume (key word here) that NFCTs can too. The only one I can think of nearby is Allen AAF up at big delta, next time I head that direction (which won't be for awhile) I'll ask.
2-1-26. PILOT DEVIATION NOTIFICATION When it appears that the actions of a pilot constitute a pilot deviation, notify the pilot, workload permitting.
PHRASEOLOGY-
(Identification) POSSIBLE PILOT DEVIATION ADVISE YOU CONTACT (facility) AT (telephone number).
[SIZE=-2]REFERENCE-
FAAO 8020.11, Aircraft Accident and Incident Notification, Investigation, and Reporting, Para 84, Pilot Deviations.[/SIZE]
but at the same time...if u could educate instead of violate, then by all means. do it.As an FAA controller my career could hinge on reporting/not reporting. If I was a contract controller I wouldnt dream of jeapordizing someone elses career or passion. Id find other ways to communicate a need for more vigilance.
i love reading that controllers have backbones. i kid i kid. seriously though it is good to see that if you can educate rather than violate then it is all good!
i know i am hijacking here a little bit but why do controllers feel it necessary to give a number knowing all good and well that the crew has a 3 hours flight ahead of them? why dont they just have the arrival airport tell the crew call the number? i guess what i am trying to say is why have a crew worry about what the call is over the whole flight rather then just tell them when they are finishing their flight?