Date: 201606
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: SCT.TRACON, CA
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: Large Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Initial Climb
Airspace: Class B LAX
ATC / advisory: TRACON SCT
Second aircraft: Large Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Reporter organization: Government
Reporter function: Departure; Instructor
Reporter qualification: Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Human factors: Situational Awareness; Human-Machine Interface; Workload; Confusion; Communication Breakdown; Time Pressure; Training / Qualification; Troubleshooting; Distraction
Second reporter function: Supervisor / CIC
Anomaly: ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Detector: Person Air Traffic Control
When detected: In-flight
Result: Air Traffic Control Separated Traffic
Contributing factors: Human Factors; Procedure
Primary problem: Procedure

Narrative: I was the CPC providing OJT on the shift when I observed a situation of a poor operation that may be legal but an example of bad operating practice. The first aircraft; Aircraft X; comes off the north complex at LAX on the HOLTZ 1 which is basically runway heading with the expectation that the departure controller turns immediately left to a 210 heading to get the aircraft on course because they need to go south. Close in behind off the south complex comes Aircraft Y on the LOOP 8 on a 236 heading which puts him inside of the previous departure that now cannot be turned south because of the proximity of Aircraft Y. Then Aircraft Z comes off the south complex on the HOLTZ 1 SID heading 220. Because the first aircraft could not be turn now the third aircraft cuts off the first. The controllers made this situation work. They amended altitudes to get the crossovers done and coordinated with the adjacent sector to turn the first aircraft to HOLTZ early because we are required five miles in trail to the adjacent sector on same route aircraft.The safety concern comes into play with the expectation of SCT turning all aircraft off the north complex immediately south which is the standard practice. The second part is the part where the third aircraft cuts off the first. That is the exact reason for the expectation and practice of turning the aircraft off the north to a 210 heading. When LAX departs the north complex with a south bound routed departure they should issue the departure the 210 heading. That way they accomplish the cross over. They know what is departing the south complex. They can now space off the north complex and not depend on the departure controller to issue that turn and they would be providing positive separation as well as providing proper sequencing giving the departure controller a chance to keep everyone in position.


Second narrative: [Report narrative contained no additional information.]


Synopsis: SCT Controller and Frontline Manager reported of a problematic operation that has been going on at LAX. Aircraft departing inside each other when the aircraft on the right needs to turn left; but cannot due to the other aircraft that was departing from the south complex.