ATC equipment problem radar ARTS scatter then scope failure.

Attributes
ACN	290739
Time
Date	199410
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mem
State Reference	TN
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : mco
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
ASRS Report	290739
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Navigational Facility
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

I was working departure/arrival combined when maintenance did a scatter on our ARTS. Initially everything came back, then all of the sudden the data on my scope went crazy. The ARTS went out then flashed for a second then started flashing some kind of erroneous data. Maintenance was called. At the time I had 5 aircraft. I find this important to mention, because these scopes are old and need replacing. We are always having problems with them. Dra scope continually, is causing problems.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATC EQUIP PROB RADAR ARTS SCATTER THEN SCOPE FAILURE.

Narrative: I WAS WORKING DEP/ARR COMBINED WHEN MAINT DID A SCATTER ON OUR ARTS. INITIALLY EVERYTHING CAME BACK, THEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE DATA ON MY SCOPE WENT CRAZY. THE ARTS WENT OUT THEN FLASHED FOR A SECOND THEN STARTED FLASHING SOME KIND OF ERRONEOUS DATA. MAINT WAS CALLED. AT THE TIME I HAD 5 ACFT. I FIND THIS IMPORTANT TO MENTION, BECAUSE THESE SCOPES ARE OLD AND NEED REPLACING. WE ARE ALWAYS HAVING PROBS WITH THEM. DRA SCOPE CONTINUALLY, IS CAUSING PROBS.

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.