Narrative:

Eugene ATCT is in the process of updating from an ASR-5 radar to an ASR-8 radar. The flight check of the new ASR-8 was to be completed on may/xx/93. As of may/xx/93 the ASR-8 is still not certified for ATC use. Eugene has had to resort to using cenrap (center radar presentation) and in some cases ZSE has had to take control of the airspace. Cenrap was developed to provide approach control facilities with center radar processing by the ARTS in the event of terminal radar system failure or nonavailability. Cenrap only provides the controller with beacon information, therefore the only traffic issued to users is that of transponder equipped aircraft. Additionally, WX returns are not available. With the recent thunderstorm and hail activity this information would be most valuable for the safety of the users. Currently the only time work is performed to find and correct problems is during the day. Mon through fri (with a couple of exceptions). Since this project affects the safety of so many it should be afforded 24 hours a day, 7 days a week until operational and certified. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following: facility manager stated the ASR-8 radar system has been certified with no operational problems at this time.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATC EQUIP PROB RADAR.

Narrative: EUGENE ATCT IS IN THE PROCESS OF UPDATING FROM AN ASR-5 RADAR TO AN ASR-8 RADAR. THE FLT CHK OF THE NEW ASR-8 WAS TO BE COMPLETED ON MAY/XX/93. AS OF MAY/XX/93 THE ASR-8 IS STILL NOT CERTIFIED FOR ATC USE. EUGENE HAS HAD TO RESORT TO USING CENRAP (CTR RADAR PRESENTATION) AND IN SOME CASES ZSE HAS HAD TO TAKE CTL OF THE AIRSPACE. CENRAP WAS DEVELOPED TO PROVIDE APCH CTL FACILITIES WITH CTR RADAR PROCESSING BY THE ARTS IN THE EVENT OF TERMINAL RADAR SYS FAILURE OR NONAVAILABILITY. CENRAP ONLY PROVIDES THE CTLR WITH BEACON INFO, THEREFORE THE ONLY TFC ISSUED TO USERS IS THAT OF XPONDER EQUIPPED ACFT. ADDITIONALLY, WX RETURNS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. WITH THE RECENT TSTM AND HAIL ACTIVITY THIS INFO WOULD BE MOST VALUABLE FOR THE SAFETY OF THE USERS. CURRENTLY THE ONLY TIME WORK IS PERFORMED TO FIND AND CORRECT PROBS IS DURING THE DAY. MON THROUGH FRI (WITH A COUPLE OF EXCEPTIONS). SINCE THIS PROJECT AFFECTS THE SAFETY OF SO MANY IT SHOULD BE AFFORDED 24 HRS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WK UNTIL OPERATIONAL AND CERTIFIED. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH REPORTER REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: FACILITY MGR STATED THE ASR-8 RADAR SYS HAS BEEN CERTIFIED WITH NO OPERATIONAL PROBS AT THIS TIME.

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.