ATC reporter claims that the ARTS A3 pt 06 program at atl TRACON randomly omits the designator for h...

Attributes
ACN	340616
Time
Date	199607
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : atl
State Reference	GA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : atl
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 5 flight time total : 140
ASRS Report	340616
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	other personnel other
Qualification	other other : other
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	faa : investigated
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
ATC Facility	other physical facility

Narrative:

The current version of ARTS A3.06 does not always capture the special designator for heavy jets or B757's. This results in less than standard 'wake turbulence' separation behind these aircraft. I have advised FAA headquarters of the problem! To date no action has been taken. This safety issue could cause loss of life due to aircraft being too close behind heavy's and B757's. I have suggested that the ARTS program be modified to default to an 'left' for B757's and an 'H' for all heavy jets. This would at least insure that the controller can easily identify those aircraft as needing wake turbulence separation. As it stands now, it is dependent on airlines to file flight plans correctly! Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter stated that TRACON automation advised him that the information that the ARTS processes is derived from ZTL's host computer. He believes that the FAA should have a fail safe system to screen and correct the information, when necessary, because it comes from the various airlines. The problem was still occurring as of the callback, but a solution is being worked on.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATC RPTR CLAIMS THAT THE ARTS A3 PT 06 PROGRAM AT ATL TRACON RANDOMLY OMITS THE DESIGNATOR FOR HVY JETS AND B757'S. THE ANOMALY, WITH CORRECTIVE ACTION, HAS BEEN FORWARDED TO FAA HEADQUARTERS FOR REVIEW.

Narrative: THE CURRENT VERSION OF ARTS A3.06 DOES NOT ALWAYS CAPTURE THE SPECIAL DESIGNATOR FOR HVY JETS OR B757'S. THIS RESULTS IN LESS THAN STANDARD 'WAKE TURB' SEPARATION BEHIND THESE ACFT. I HAVE ADVISED FAA HEADQUARTERS OF THE PROB! TO DATE NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN. THIS SAFETY ISSUE COULD CAUSE LOSS OF LIFE DUE TO ACFT BEING TOO CLOSE BEHIND HVY'S AND B757'S. I HAVE SUGGESTED THAT THE ARTS PROGRAM BE MODIFIED TO DEFAULT TO AN 'L' FOR B757'S AND AN 'H' FOR ALL HVY JETS. THIS WOULD AT LEAST INSURE THAT THE CTLR CAN EASILY IDENT THOSE ACFT AS NEEDING WAKE TURB SEPARATION. AS IT STANDS NOW, IT IS DEPENDENT ON AIRLINES TO FILE FLT PLANS CORRECTLY! CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATED THAT TRACON AUTOMATION ADVISED HIM THAT THE INFO THAT THE ARTS PROCESSES IS DERIVED FROM ZTL'S HOST COMPUTER. HE BELIEVES THAT THE FAA SHOULD HAVE A FAIL SAFE SYS TO SCREEN AND CORRECT THE INFO, WHEN NECESSARY, BECAUSE IT COMES FROM THE VARIOUS AIRLINES. THE PROB WAS STILL OCCURRING AS OF THE CALLBACK, BUT A SOLUTION IS BEING WORKED ON.

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.

ATC reporter claims that the ARTS A3 pt 06 program at atl TRACON randomly omits the designator for heavy jets and B757's. The anomaly, with corrective action, has been forwarded to FAA headquarters for review.