WX reporting equipment problem LLWAS OTS.

Attributes
ACN	275230
Time
Date	199308
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : sdf
State Reference	KY
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
ASRS Report	275230
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	oversight : supervisor
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified atc
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	faa : investigated
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
ATC Facility	other physical facility

Narrative:

The LLWAS (low level wind shear alert system) at sdf has been OTS since aug/93. This equipment is vital to the safety of some 1000000 passenger who fly in and out of sdf due to the amount of severe WX that we have here. There is no reason for the safety of these passenger and the quality of service to be put in jeopardy because of government red tape. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: sdf supervisor stated the LLWAS has been down since aug/93. The company that installed the LLWAS has gone out of business and parts are not available for repair. This problem has gone to congressional level.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: WX RPTING EQUIP PROB LLWAS OTS.

Narrative: THE LLWAS (LOW LEVEL WIND SHEAR ALERT SYS) AT SDF HAS BEEN OTS SINCE AUG/93. THIS EQUIP IS VITAL TO THE SAFETY OF SOME 1000000 PAX WHO FLY IN AND OUT OF SDF DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF SEVERE WX THAT WE HAVE HERE. THERE IS NO REASON FOR THE SAFETY OF THESE PAX AND THE QUALITY OF SVC TO BE PUT IN JEOPARDY BECAUSE OF GOVERNMENT RED TAPE. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: SDF SUPVR STATED THE LLWAS HAS BEEN DOWN SINCE AUG/93. THE COMPANY THAT INSTALLED THE LLWAS HAS GONE OUT OF BUSINESS AND PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE FOR REPAIR. THIS PROB HAS GONE TO CONGRESSIONAL LEVEL.

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.