ATC equipment problem non control of BRITE radar scope.

Attributes
ACN	283497
Time
Date	199409
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : pne
State Reference	PA
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : mke
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller non radar : 8 controller radar : 2
ASRS Report	283497
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	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Navigational Facility
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
ATC Facility	procedure or policy : unspecified

Narrative:

Several times the radar technicians have taken control of the BRITE display without any notification to the tower controllers. We have told them several times to call us and let us know that this is going to happen. However they still continue to take control of the BRITE without any warning. This can result in an uncomfortable position for the controller when sequencing and traffic calls are given from the BRITE display. We (the controllers) need to know when the BRITE will be taken OTS or adjustments will be made well enough in advance to prevent any incidents/accidents from happening. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: pne tower supervisor stated FAA maintenance technicians call to take control of BRITE scope radar. There have been some isolated incidents when they don't.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATC EQUIP PROB NON CTL OF BRITE RADAR SCOPE.

Narrative: SEVERAL TIMES THE RADAR TECHNICIANS HAVE TAKEN CTL OF THE BRITE DISPLAY WITHOUT ANY NOTIFICATION TO THE TWR CTLRS. WE HAVE TOLD THEM SEVERAL TIMES TO CALL US AND LET US KNOW THAT THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN. HOWEVER THEY STILL CONTINUE TO TAKE CTL OF THE BRITE WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THIS CAN RESULT IN AN UNCOMFORTABLE POS FOR THE CTLR WHEN SEQUENCING AND TFC CALLS ARE GIVEN FROM THE BRITE DISPLAY. WE (THE CTLRS) NEED TO KNOW WHEN THE BRITE WILL BE TAKEN OTS OR ADJUSTMENTS WILL BE MADE WELL ENOUGH IN ADVANCE TO PREVENT ANY INCIDENTS/ACCIDENTS FROM HAPPENING. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: PNE TWR SUPVR STATED FAA MAINT TECHNICIANS CALL TO TAKE CTL OF BRITE SCOPE RADAR. THERE HAVE BEEN SOME ISOLATED INCIDENTS WHEN THEY DON'T.

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.