Narrative:

D01 is supposed to take over approach control for gjt in oct/96, without the use of computer data. Currently ZDV runs approach control for them with computer data. We've been told that we can provide a better service, but I don't see how when we have to use a 10 channel decoder with no mode C readout and with the terrain and MVA restrs that we'll have. We have a number of controllers that have never used a 10 channel decoder and all they are receiving is a 1/2 day of class along with 1-2 etg problems, then they'll be certified. Also, anyone with previous level iv experience will be automatically certified on the position, even if they are not an fpl currently at D01. The problem with this is that there are certain techniques that should be used and different problems that arise in mountainous terrain and if someone doesn't have any experience with it, it could prove to be very dangerous even if they had computer data to aid them. ZDV will be working the airspace from XX00 to XG00 anyway, why should we take it over at XG00 with no computer data, when they could continue to run it with computer data? It seems to me that they could provide a much safer and more efficient service than us. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter explained the limitation of the radar link used for the gjt traffic and that the ARTS program will not be updated until the ARTS 3E program is available sometime in 1997. Reporter alleged that the reason den was given approach control for gjt is they would provide better service by indicating that the center apparently handled the traffic as if in a non radar separation environment. Reporter indicated his concern for safety as the center overflt traffic is displayed as non discrete beacons code of the selected 10 channel decoder code blocks and could get mixed up with the gjt traffic using the same beacon block. Supplemental information from acn 347061: ZDV currently runs the airspace with ASR-9 and ARTS. Supplemental information from acn 347060: the terrain surrounding gjt is extreme. Our lowest MVA is 8000 ft. With no mode C readout we will ask pilots as often as needed altitudes leaving.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: RPTR CLAIMS D01 WILL TAKE OVER THE APCH CTL FOR GJT WITHOUT THE USE OF COMPUTER DATA AND WILL HAVE TO USE THE 10 CHANNEL BEACON DECODER WITHOUT MODE C ALT READOUT FROM ZDV. THE CTR CURRENTLY HANDLES THIS FUNCTION WITH ASR-9 AND ARTS CAPABILITY.

Narrative: D01 IS SUPPOSED TO TAKE OVER APCH CTL FOR GJT IN OCT/96, WITHOUT THE USE OF COMPUTER DATA. CURRENTLY ZDV RUNS APCH CTL FOR THEM WITH COMPUTER DATA. WE'VE BEEN TOLD THAT WE CAN PROVIDE A BETTER SVC, BUT I DON'T SEE HOW WHEN WE HAVE TO USE A 10 CHANNEL DECODER WITH NO MODE C READOUT AND WITH THE TERRAIN AND MVA RESTRS THAT WE'LL HAVE. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF CTLRS THAT HAVE NEVER USED A 10 CHANNEL DECODER AND ALL THEY ARE RECEIVING IS A 1/2 DAY OF CLASS ALONG WITH 1-2 ETG PROBS, THEN THEY'LL BE CERTIFIED. ALSO, ANYONE WITH PREVIOUS LEVEL IV EXPERIENCE WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY CERTIFIED ON THE POS, EVEN IF THEY ARE NOT AN FPL CURRENTLY AT D01. THE PROB WITH THIS IS THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN TECHNIQUES THAT SHOULD BE USED AND DIFFERENT PROBS THAT ARISE IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AND IF SOMEONE DOESN'T HAVE ANY EXPERIENCE WITH IT, IT COULD PROVE TO BE VERY DANGEROUS EVEN IF THEY HAD COMPUTER DATA TO AID THEM. ZDV WILL BE WORKING THE AIRSPACE FROM XX00 TO XG00 ANYWAY, WHY SHOULD WE TAKE IT OVER AT XG00 WITH NO COMPUTER DATA, WHEN THEY COULD CONTINUE TO RUN IT WITH COMPUTER DATA? IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THEY COULD PROVIDE A MUCH SAFER AND MORE EFFICIENT SVC THAN US. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR EXPLAINED THE LIMITATION OF THE RADAR LINK USED FOR THE GJT TFC AND THAT THE ARTS PROGRAM WILL NOT BE UPDATED UNTIL THE ARTS 3E PROGRAM IS AVAILABLE SOMETIME IN 1997. RPTR ALLEGED THAT THE REASON DEN WAS GIVEN APCH CTL FOR GJT IS THEY WOULD PROVIDE BETTER SVC BY INDICATING THAT THE CTR APPARENTLY HANDLED THE TFC AS IF IN A NON RADAR SEPARATION ENVIRONMENT. RPTR INDICATED HIS CONCERN FOR SAFETY AS THE CTR OVERFLT TFC IS DISPLAYED AS NON DISCRETE BEACONS CODE OF THE SELECTED 10 CHANNEL DECODER CODE BLOCKS AND COULD GET MIXED UP WITH THE GJT TFC USING THE SAME BEACON BLOCK. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 347061: ZDV CURRENTLY RUNS THE AIRSPACE WITH ASR-9 AND ARTS. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 347060: THE TERRAIN SURROUNDING GJT IS EXTREME. OUR LOWEST MVA IS 8000 FT. WITH NO MODE C READOUT WE WILL ASK PLTS AS OFTEN AS NEEDED ALTS LEAVING.

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.