ATC equipment problem radar ASR-8. Target coasting.

Attributes
ACN	264718
Time
Date	199402
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : tpa
State Reference	FL
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller military : 5 controller radar : 11
ASRS Report	264718
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	oversight : supervisor
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	faa : investigated
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Navigational Facility
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
Navigational Aid	Unspecified

Narrative:

In the last month, equipment at tpa has gotten to the point of 'questionable reliability.' ucr's are being filed and the responses are as to be expected. There is a continual loss of confidence in our equipment, i.e., beacon, RVR's, radios, and the placement of an ASR-9 antenna right beside our ASR-8 that blocks our radar coverage to the west. On 2/xx/94, while working the 'north' position, I noted 8 aircraft went into coast out of 8 aircraft worked. Altitudes were not a factor nor was their position. After changing to another channel, the coasting improved somewhat, but 6 aircraft out of 10 were not going into coast. The supervisor was informed and the incidents were logged. On 2/xx/94, the srq beacon again experienced this same problem. When the supervisor notified srq, it seemed to improve. When this happens, at least half of the targets coast and seem to alternate. This does not go on continuously but does happen too often (about twice a week). If this occurs at a busy time, it could be dangerous to the flying public. This situation is getting worse and its been known to management for months.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATC EQUIP PROB RADAR ASR-8. TARGET COASTING.

Narrative: IN THE LAST MONTH, EQUIP AT TPA HAS GOTTEN TO THE POINT OF 'QUESTIONABLE RELIABILITY.' UCR'S ARE BEING FILED AND THE RESPONSES ARE AS TO BE EXPECTED. THERE IS A CONTINUAL LOSS OF CONFIDENCE IN OUR EQUIP, I.E., BEACON, RVR'S, RADIOS, AND THE PLACEMENT OF AN ASR-9 ANTENNA RIGHT BESIDE OUR ASR-8 THAT BLOCKS OUR RADAR COVERAGE TO THE W. ON 2/XX/94, WHILE WORKING THE 'N' POS, I NOTED 8 ACFT WENT INTO COAST OUT OF 8 ACFT WORKED. ALTS WERE NOT A FACTOR NOR WAS THEIR POS. AFTER CHANGING TO ANOTHER CHANNEL, THE COASTING IMPROVED SOMEWHAT, BUT 6 ACFT OUT OF 10 WERE NOT GOING INTO COAST. THE SUPVR WAS INFORMED AND THE INCIDENTS WERE LOGGED. ON 2/XX/94, THE SRQ BEACON AGAIN EXPERIENCED THIS SAME PROB. WHEN THE SUPVR NOTIFIED SRQ, IT SEEMED TO IMPROVE. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, AT LEAST HALF OF THE TARGETS COAST AND SEEM TO ALTERNATE. THIS DOES NOT GO ON CONTINUOUSLY BUT DOES HAPPEN TOO OFTEN (ABOUT TWICE A WK). IF THIS OCCURS AT A BUSY TIME, IT COULD BE DANGEROUS TO THE FLYING PUBLIC. THIS SIT IS GETTING WORSE AND ITS BEEN KNOWN TO MGMNT FOR MONTHS.

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.