Date: 202102
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: ITO.Airport, HI
Flight conditions: VMC
Weather elements / visibility: Strong Winds
Aircraft: Small Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turboprop Eng
Operator: Military
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Training
Flight phase: Descent
Airspace: Class E HCF
ATC / advisory: TRACON ITO
Reporter organization: Government
Reporter function: Approach
Reporter qualification: Air Traffic Control Developmental
Human factors: Communication Breakdown
Anomaly: ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Detector: Automation Air Traffic Control; Person Air Traffic Control
When detected: In-flight
Result: Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance
Contributing factors: Procedure; Airspace Structure; Chart Or Publication; Human Factors; Weather
Primary problem: Human Factors

Narrative: Aircraft X on an IFR flight plan was being vectored for an ILS approach. The weather was marginal but apparently had some very strong winds aloft as the aircraft kept flying off course when given any heading. The initial heading of 115 looked like a 125 heading. I gave him a 115 heading down to 1800 ft. for the ILS approach but when I saw that he was heading toward the higher MVAs; I asked him to turn 10 degrees left. The pilot asked if I was painting any weather but I didn't see anything and I told him that. I also told him to advise if he wanted to deviate for weather. It looked like the weather was clearing up and the winds were calm enough for an approach. Since he kept getting blown off course toward the shoreline and away from the water; I asked him if he'd like an instrument or visual approach instead. He said that he had the shoreline in sight so the visual approach might work.As he got closer to the field; I noticed that he looked like he was heading 145; even closer to the MVA. And so I told him to turn left heading 090 but he delayed his response; much like he'd been doing the whole time. He flew out of the 1500 ft. MVA and into the 2100 ft. MVA and I issued a safety alert and again told him to turn left heading 090 and to climb to 2100 ft. After what felt like forever; he finally turned left heading 090 and climbed to 2100 ft. I then safely vectored him for an ILS approach and he landed without incident. Throughout the conversation there was a major delay in the pilot's responses and I believe that that made a big difference. I could have sharply turned him much earlier though and had I done that I believe that this would not have happened. Given that he was such a small aircraft and was being so greatly affected by the winds; I've learned my lesson. When the pilot departed ITO after landing; he was very thankful; and quite honestly I am too. It was a good learning experience. I know that pilots are quite busy and he was probably fighting the winds more than he knew. I discussed the matter with my Air Traffic Manager who was Controller in Charge at the time and we went over safety alerts. Weather can make a big difference and here in Hilo it is very unpredictable.




Synopsis: A TRACON Controller in training reported vectoring an aircraft in strong winds that delayed its turns; resulting in the aircraft flying below the Minimum Vectoring Altitude.