ATC equipment problem radar scope.

Attributes
ACN	197096
Time
Date	199111
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : fsd
State Reference	SD
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller non radar : 3 controller radar : 2
ASRS Report	197096
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	other personnel other
Qualification	other other : other
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable other
Consequence	faa : investigated
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Navigational Facility
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
Navigational Aid	Unspecified

Narrative:

On nov/thu/91, the dbrite used by the arrival/departure controller at fsd went blank for 12 mins. During this time, the controller had no radar to base their separation on, and the problem has occurred again on dec/XXX/91. The situation has progressed from an 'arcing' noise to the screen being blank. The noise started from the time that the dbrites were installed. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter experience: 2 yrs radar/3 yrs nonradar. The reporter stated a ucr has been filed with the concurrence of facility management. The dbrite scopes were installed about 1 yr ago. What the reporter calls 'arcing' is a clicking sound coming from the dbrite scope. This sound started about 1 month after installation. Af was notified and unable to fix. Several months later, the clicking sound would start and the radar scope would start to turn white, then flash and go blank. The presentation would return in about 30 seconds. This problem has progressed to its current state. Af has told the reporter it's the CRT. That's the problem and it will take 9 months to get a new one. The reporter said he called 2 facilities to ask if they had same problem (far and rst). They reported getting the clicking sound, but are not losing the radar presentation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATC EQUIP PROBLEM RADAR SCOPE.

Narrative: ON NOV/THU/91, THE DBRITE USED BY THE ARR/DEP CTLR AT FSD WENT BLANK FOR 12 MINS. DURING THIS TIME, THE CTLR HAD NO RADAR TO BASE THEIR SEPARATION ON, AND THE PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED AGAIN ON DEC/XXX/91. THE SITUATION HAS PROGRESSED FROM AN 'ARCING' NOISE TO THE SCREEN BEING BLANK. THE NOISE STARTED FROM THE TIME THAT THE DBRITES WERE INSTALLED. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR EXPERIENCE: 2 YRS RADAR/3 YRS NONRADAR. THE RPTR STATED A UCR HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE CONCURRENCE OF FACILITY MGMNT. THE DBRITE SCOPES WERE INSTALLED ABOUT 1 YR AGO. WHAT THE RPTR CALLS 'ARCING' IS A CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE DBRITE SCOPE. THIS SOUND STARTED ABOUT 1 MONTH AFTER INSTALLATION. AF WAS NOTIFIED AND UNABLE TO FIX. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER, THE CLICKING SOUND WOULD START AND THE RADAR SCOPE WOULD START TO TURN WHITE, THEN FLASH AND GO BLANK. THE PRESENTATION WOULD RETURN IN ABOUT 30 SECONDS. THIS PROBLEM HAS PROGRESSED TO ITS CURRENT STATE. AF HAS TOLD THE RPTR IT'S THE CRT. THAT'S THE PROBLEM AND IT WILL TAKE 9 MONTHS TO GET A NEW ONE. THE RPTR SAID HE CALLED 2 FACILITIES TO ASK IF THEY HAD SAME PROBLEM (FAR AND RST). THEY RPTED GETTING THE CLICKING SOUND, BUT ARE NOT LOSING THE RADAR PRESENTATION.

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.