Narrative:

Cle tower has two asde (ground radar) installations. The 'old' asde ii is subject to break down and parts for repair are not available. The 'new' asde III is not working due to problems experienced nationally with the equipment. However, there are locations where the asde III is working and usable under operational readiness demonstration parameters. When the ceiling and visibility drops below 200 ft and 1 1/2 mi, controllers become blind. The only requirement to 'turn on' asde III is: 1) operational readiness demonstration determination. 2) local memorandum of understanding. 3) turn power switch to 'on.' it is unsatisfactory that we allow usable equipment to situation and collect dust! Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: sfo quats stated that they have asde III but it is not commissioned. He stated it is a software problem and they are not scheduled for commissioning until nov/95. He said sea is the only facility where asde ii is working. Sea plans and programs officer stated asde III has been commissioned at sea since dec/93. Asde III works fine. Antenna is not located on top of tower. Main control panel is not located in tower only scope adjustment controls are located with the radar scope. They have some minor strobing but this is acceptable to controllers. A permanent echo is located on the field and is visible on radar scope. Cle supervisor said asde antenna is located on top of tower. The reason asde III is not commissioned is a software problem. Cle is scheduled for commissioning summer of 1994.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATC EQUIP PROB RADAR ASDE III.

Narrative: CLE TWR HAS TWO ASDE (GND RADAR) INSTALLATIONS. THE 'OLD' ASDE II IS SUBJECT TO BREAK DOWN AND PARTS FOR REPAIR ARE NOT AVAILABLE. THE 'NEW' ASDE III IS NOT WORKING DUE TO PROBS EXPERIENCED NATIONALLY WITH THE EQUIP. HOWEVER, THERE ARE LOCATIONS WHERE THE ASDE III IS WORKING AND USABLE UNDER OPERATIONAL READINESS DEMONSTRATION PARAMETERS. WHEN THE CEILING AND VISIBILITY DROPS BELOW 200 FT AND 1 1/2 MI, CTLRS BECOME BLIND. THE ONLY REQUIREMENT TO 'TURN ON' ASDE III IS: 1) OPERATIONAL READINESS DEMONSTRATION DETERMINATION. 2) LCL MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING. 3) TURN PWR SWITCH TO 'ON.' IT IS UNSATISFACTORY THAT WE ALLOW USABLE EQUIP TO SIT AND COLLECT DUST! CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: SFO QUATS STATED THAT THEY HAVE ASDE III BUT IT IS NOT COMMISSIONED. HE STATED IT IS A SOFTWARE PROB AND THEY ARE NOT SCHEDULED FOR COMMISSIONING UNTIL NOV/95. HE SAID SEA IS THE ONLY FACILITY WHERE ASDE II IS WORKING. SEA PLANS AND PROGRAMS OFFICER STATED ASDE III HAS BEEN COMMISSIONED AT SEA SINCE DEC/93. ASDE III WORKS FINE. ANTENNA IS NOT LOCATED ON TOP OF TWR. MAIN CTL PANEL IS NOT LOCATED IN TWR ONLY SCOPE ADJUSTMENT CTLS ARE LOCATED WITH THE RADAR SCOPE. THEY HAVE SOME MINOR STROBING BUT THIS IS ACCEPTABLE TO CTLRS. A PERMANENT ECHO IS LOCATED ON THE FIELD AND IS VISIBLE ON RADAR SCOPE. CLE SUPVR SAID ASDE ANTENNA IS LOCATED ON TOP OF TWR. THE REASON ASDE III IS NOT COMMISSIONED IS A SOFTWARE PROB. CLE IS SCHEDULED FOR COMMISSIONING SUMMER OF 1994.

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.