Date: 201503
Local time of day: 1801-2400
Location: SFO.Airport, CA
Aircraft: Large Transport
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Taxi
ATC / advisory: Tower SFO
Reporter organization: Government
Reporter function: Instructor; Local
Reporter qualification: Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Human factors: Situational Awareness
Second reporter function: Supervisor / CIC
Anomaly: ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Ground Conflict; Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Incursion Runway
Detector: Person Air Traffic Control
When detected: In-flight; Taxi
Result: Air Traffic Control Separated Traffic; Flight Crew Executed Go Around / Missed Approach
Contributing factors: Procedure; Human Factors
Primary problem: Procedure

Narrative: I was conducting OJT on Local Control (LC) when my trainee instructed Aircraft X to cross runway 28L at taxiway Delta while Aircraft Y was on a 2 mile final for that same runway.  Aircraft X cleared Rwy28L and came to a stop; but was still clear of the runway as well as the hold bars; and Aircraft X was un-impeded to continue forward.  Aircraft Y was in the flare and about to touch down on runway 28L about 1000 feet down the runway from the approach end; when the CIC approached the trainee and told her to 'send Aircraft Y around.'  The trainee wasted no time and sent Aircraft Y around.  As the trainer; I thought that I had missed something and that maybe the CIC had seen a vehicle enter the runway somewhere.  Aircraft Y was literally about to touch down on RWY28L and the reason the CIC gave for sending him around was that Aircraft X had stopped and was in the 'safety area' of RWY28L.  I believe that sending Aircraft Y around at such a critical phase of flight coupled with the fact that the runway was clear by every definition of the term; led to a very unsafe situation.  Perhaps additional training is needed.  I'm not sure what could be done to prevent this from happening again short of training for the individual who was on CIC at the time.  It seems that they have a different idea of what 'runway clear' means.  What we don't need; is to be creating unsafe situations.


Second narrative: I had just taken over CIC a minute or two previous; and as the Front Line Manager (FLM) left the cab; I plugged in CC1 position to monitor Ground Control.  OJT was taking place at Local Control; with a Local Assist; so I thought it was best to listen to Ground. Traffic was fairly complex; with visual approaches to Runway 28 Left & Right; departing Runway 1 Left & Right; with a mix of Runway 28 Left departures.  Local Control had crossed Runway 28 Left with Aircraft X at Taxiway D; while traffic was a two mile final.  Aircraft X came to a stop half way over the hold position line for the Runway Safety Area (RSA).  Ground reached out to Aircraft X; about the time Aircraft Y was over the approach lights; without a response.  I leaned over to the developmental and said send Aircraft Y around. They did as soon as I said.  Since I was not monitoring Local; I did not hear the readback; however Aircraft Y arrested their rate of descent at the threshold and leveled for 1000 feet or so; than began a slow climb out.  While they were being sent around; Aircraft X checked in on Ground and was given instructions to taxi.The clear of runway issue is a widespread problem in that it has been allowed to go too far with the controllers here at SFO.  Nobody seems to have the pucker factor anymore that this is sacred ground (Runway and RSA); and is the most important part of our job.  Work from the airport out!  There was a recent go around where the pilot took themselves around; due to the slow crossing of a previous arrival. There are many times when the FLM it seems is allowing this to go on in front of their eyes; either ignorant to the actual rule; or too tired from the bouncing around they do between office time and tower cab time; and the multitude of personalities and idiosyncrasies they have in the workforce.  Forget when a CIC is in place; they have no idea how to remove their own personality from the equation to stand up for what is right. I would like to see some rehashing of the rules to get people back on track.  It has all gotten so convoluted that I am not sure anyone knows what is happening most of the time.I really do not know what else to say.


Synopsis: An SFO Controller and CIC report of a go-around caused by an aircraft not exiting the runway completely in the CIC's eyes; but was clear enough in the Locals eyes to let the operation continue.