ATC equipment problem ARTS interface with adjoining approach control facilities.

Attributes
ACN	307750
Time
Date	199506
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : fay
State Reference	NC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4000 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Dawn
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct enroute airway : fay
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 10
ASRS Report	307750
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
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:

I want to establish a database for ARTS iia interface problems between fay and our adjoining approach controls, particularly those approach controls in ZJX host. Note: fay is a ZDC host. Note: this has been a problem for approximately 4 yrs. Situation: aircraft departs fay for points s-sw. Fay attempts automated handoff via ARTS iia to flo or myr approach. ARTS iia rejects handoff for whatever reason and we get 'if' (interface). This then requires a manual handoff to either flo or myr. The problem is 10 fold if we had to make an amendment to the aircraft flight plan via the fdio prior to handoff. Most controllers now work around the problem ie, use manual procedures rather than automated. Fay aus is very well aware of problem and has been unable to resolve the problem. The problem seems to stem from going from one host ZDC to another ZJX? Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following: reporter stated the problem has been ongoing for 5 yrs. The if occurs when an aircraft route or altitude is amended while in fay airspace en route to an adjoining approach control in ZJX computer area. Dss has said enter a false fix to trick the computer and the problem will be solved.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATC EQUIP PROB ARTS INTERFACE WITH ADJOINING APCH CTL FACILITIES.

Narrative: I WANT TO ESTABLISH A DATABASE FOR ARTS IIA INTERFACE PROBS BTWN FAY AND OUR ADJOINING APCH CTLS, PARTICULARLY THOSE APCH CTLS IN ZJX HOST. NOTE: FAY IS A ZDC HOST. NOTE: THIS HAS BEEN A PROB FOR APPROX 4 YRS. SITUATION: ACFT DEPARTS FAY FOR POINTS S-SW. FAY ATTEMPTS AUTOMATED HDOF VIA ARTS IIA TO FLO OR MYR APCH. ARTS IIA REJECTS HDOF FOR WHATEVER REASON AND WE GET 'IF' (INTERFACE). THIS THEN REQUIRES A MANUAL HDOF TO EITHER FLO OR MYR. THE PROB IS 10 FOLD IF WE HAD TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO THE ACFT FLT PLAN VIA THE FDIO PRIOR TO HDOF. MOST CTLRS NOW WORK AROUND THE PROB IE, USE MANUAL PROCS RATHER THAN AUTOMATED. FAY AUS IS VERY WELL AWARE OF PROB AND HAS BEEN UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROB. THE PROB SEEMS TO STEM FROM GOING FROM ONE HOST ZDC TO ANOTHER ZJX? CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH REPORTER REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: RPTR STATED THE PROB HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR 5 YRS. THE IF OCCURS WHEN AN ACFT RTE OR ALT IS AMENDED WHILE IN FAY AIRSPACE ENRTE TO AN ADJOINING APCH CTL IN ZJX COMPUTER AREA. DSS HAS SAID ENTER A FALSE FIX TO TRICK THE COMPUTER AND THE PROB WILL BE SOLVED.

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.