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Bfl approach controller reported of not being able to see an aircraft's transponder. The controller gave the pilot the option of being routed non-radar or cancelling IFR. Pilot cancelled IFR and controller tried to provide flight following. Controller reported that ZLA and fat approach could see the aircrafts transponder. Controller requested the radar be updated during nextgen technology.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1292549 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201509 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201-1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | BFL.TRACON |
| State Reference | CA |
| Environment | |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | Small Aircraft |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | Cruise |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Approach |
| Qualification | Air Traffic Control Fully Certified |
| Experience | Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 8 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | ATC Issue All Types |
Narrative:
The bfl radar equipment could not pick up the aircraft's transponder. I told the pilot he would need to be routed via non radar route (which would have added time to his flight) or he could cancel IFR. The pilot canceled IFR and I tried to provide flight following using a primary target. Please note that both fresno approach and los angeles center could see the aircraft's transponder.I recommend replacing the radar and equipment with 'nextgen' technology. This has been a constant problem and even more dangerous since we are limited to one beacon channel. When bfl equipment cannot pick up an aircraft's transponder; it causes 'tunnel vision' and makes it more likely a controller will miss providing safety advisories and services to other aircraft.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: BFL Approach Controller reported of not being able to see an aircraft's transponder. The Controller gave the pilot the option of being routed non-radar or cancelling IFR. Pilot cancelled IFR and Controller tried to provide flight following. Controller reported that ZLA and FAT Approach could see the aircrafts transponder. Controller requested the radar be updated during NextGen technology.
Narrative: The BFL radar equipment could not pick up the aircraft's transponder. I told the pilot he would need to be routed via non radar route (which would have added time to his flight) or he could cancel IFR. The pilot canceled IFR and I tried to provide flight following using a primary target. Please note that both Fresno Approach and Los Angeles Center could see the aircraft's transponder.I recommend replacing the radar and equipment with 'NextGen' technology. This has been a constant problem and even more dangerous since we are limited to one beacon channel. When BFL equipment cannot pick up an aircraft's transponder; it causes 'tunnel vision' and makes it more likely a controller will miss providing safety advisories and services to other aircraft.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.