Narrative:

Normal XXXX NAS computer shutdowns are being scheduled from YYYY to XXXX (local) instead of normal XXXX shutdown. At least in part to accomplish controller training on backup 'darc' radar system. Several sectors in the facility experience mod and/or peak traffic during this time period. Intentional shutdown of safety-related computer enhancements during this time period is, in my professional assessment, a serious erosion of safety to the ATC system. Also, our current version of 'darc' (backup radar) is new and is still experiencing certain problems which the agency has acknowledged require improvements. Controllers have little exposure on the new system, no simulated training, and a rather ineffectual computer based instruction course completed some months ago. Facility staffing during the time period of planned shutdown is reduced to low levels with positions of operation combined. Controller workload is quite high when using darc since automatic-handoff features are not available. Also, conflict alert, mode C intruder alert, '5 mi circle', flight plan based route displays and other safety enhancements are not available. We have been notified that these shutdowns will occur every 8 days and that there will be a 25 min delay should automated NAS computer functions need to be restored.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SITUATION: NAS COMPUTER SHUTDOWN FOR CTLR TRAINING WITH DARC RADAR SYSTEM.

Narrative: NORMAL XXXX NAS COMPUTER SHUTDOWNS ARE BEING SCHEDULED FROM YYYY TO XXXX (LCL) INSTEAD OF NORMAL XXXX SHUTDOWN. AT LEAST IN PART TO ACCOMPLISH CTLR TRAINING ON BACKUP 'DARC' RADAR SYSTEM. SEVERAL SECTORS IN THE FAC EXPERIENCE MOD AND/OR PEAK TFC DURING THIS TIME PERIOD. INTENTIONAL SHUTDOWN OF SAFETY-RELATED COMPUTER ENHANCEMENTS DURING THIS TIME PERIOD IS, IN MY PROFESSIONAL ASSESSMENT, A SERIOUS EROSION OF SAFETY TO THE ATC SYSTEM. ALSO, OUR CURRENT VERSION OF 'DARC' (BACKUP RADAR) IS NEW AND IS STILL EXPERIENCING CERTAIN PROBLEMS WHICH THE AGENCY HAS ACKNOWLEDGED REQUIRE IMPROVEMENTS. CTLRS HAVE LITTLE EXPOSURE ON THE NEW SYSTEM, NO SIMULATED TRAINING, AND A RATHER INEFFECTUAL COMPUTER BASED INSTRUCTION COURSE COMPLETED SOME MONTHS AGO. FAC STAFFING DURING THE TIME PERIOD OF PLANNED SHUTDOWN IS REDUCED TO LOW LEVELS WITH POSITIONS OF OPERATION COMBINED. CTLR WORKLOAD IS QUITE HIGH WHEN USING DARC SINCE AUTO-HANDOFF FEATURES ARE NOT AVAILABLE. ALSO, CONFLICT ALERT, MODE C INTRUDER ALERT, '5 MI CIRCLE', FLT PLAN BASED ROUTE DISPLAYS AND OTHER SAFETY ENHANCEMENTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. WE HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED THAT THESE SHUTDOWNS WILL OCCUR EVERY 8 DAYS AND THAT THERE WILL BE A 25 MIN DELAY SHOULD AUTOMATED NAS COMPUTER FUNCTIONS NEED TO BE RESTORED.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.