3 sectors at ARTCC facility are receiving a lot of false conflict alert alarms.

Attributes
ACN	241463
Time
Date	199305
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zob
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 10000
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zob tracon : phl
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller military : 4 controller radar : 5
ASRS Report	241463
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
ATC Facility	other physical facility

Narrative:

The use of conflict alert in the ihd, wmd, and ton sectors is becoming a danger to air safety. During VFR days these sectors receive far too many conflict alerts at or below 10000. On many occasions we receive 5-6 alerts during busy inbound pushes at ihd/wmd. Many times, the data blocks flash with all VFR targets causing data block overlap which the controllers cannot keep apart. It is becoming increasingly more difficult with the summer WX/summer VFR traffic to work ihd/wmd sectors efficiently. The majority of the sectors at ZOB have approach controls below their airspace which reduces conflict alerts to ZOB. But sectors such as ihd/wmd/ton do not. The #1 priority of ATC is the separation and safety of aircraft. I understand the reason for the conflict alert, but at these sectors at or below 10000 ft, it is a hindrance not a help. Perhaps an amendment at or below 10000 ft at these sectors to the conflict alert should be used.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: 3 SECTORS AT ARTCC FACILITY ARE RECEIVING A LOT OF FALSE CONFLICT ALERT ALARMS.

Narrative: THE USE OF CONFLICT ALERT IN THE IHD, WMD, AND TON SECTORS IS BECOMING A DANGER TO AIR SAFETY. DURING VFR DAYS THESE SECTORS RECEIVE FAR TOO MANY CONFLICT ALERTS AT OR BELOW 10000. ON MANY OCCASIONS WE RECEIVE 5-6 ALERTS DURING BUSY INBOUND PUSHES AT IHD/WMD. MANY TIMES, THE DATA BLOCKS FLASH WITH ALL VFR TARGETS CAUSING DATA BLOCK OVERLAP WHICH THE CTLRS CANNOT KEEP APART. IT IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY MORE DIFFICULT WITH THE SUMMER WX/SUMMER VFR TFC TO WORK IHD/WMD SECTORS EFFICIENTLY. THE MAJORITY OF THE SECTORS AT ZOB HAVE APCH CTLS BELOW THEIR AIRSPACE WHICH REDUCES CONFLICT ALERTS TO ZOB. BUT SECTORS SUCH AS IHD/WMD/TON DO NOT. THE #1 PRIORITY OF ATC IS THE SEPARATION AND SAFETY OF ACFT. I UNDERSTAND THE REASON FOR THE CONFLICT ALERT, BUT AT THESE SECTORS AT OR BELOW 10000 FT, IT IS A HINDRANCE NOT A HELP. PERHAPS AN AMENDMENT AT OR BELOW 10000 FT AT THESE SECTORS TO THE CONFLICT ALERT SHOULD BE USED.

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.