A TRACON radar controller claims that there is a loss of primary radar targets northwest of the rada...

Attributes
ACN	394358
Time
Date	199801
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : anc
State Reference	AK
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : anc
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller non radar : 4 controller radar : 4
ASRS Report	394358
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	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Navigational Facility
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
Navigational Aid	Unspecified

Narrative:

For the past 2 months I have been complaining about loss of primary radar targets northwest of antenna. It involves many aircraft, regardless of size or altitude. Airways facilities is aware of problem, but I believe they have been dragging their feet, waiting for better WX or staffing conditions. Airways facilities personnel have been overworked lately, probably due to cutbacks on a national level. The situation has, in my opinion, become progressively worse. I have had to terminate radar services on aircraft (non transponder) at 1300 ft within the inner circle. I am very concerned about potential safety problems arising from the high concentration of GA aircraft operating in the area. Many of these are not transponder equipped and operate at all different altitudes. If we can't see them, and TCASII can't see them, we have nothing left but the old 'see and avoid.' take one giant step backwards. Only after I told the manager that I was going to file a ucr did airways facilities suddenly spring into action. I fear that the wave of the future is going to be like this. Airways facilities will wait until the equipment fails totally prior to doing anything about it.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A TRACON RADAR CTLR CLAIMS THAT THERE IS A LOSS OF PRIMARY RADAR TARGETS NW OF THE RADAR ANTENNA. SUPPOSEDLY, MAINT TECHNICIANS ARE AWARE OF THE PROB, BUT ARE HAVING DIFFICULTIES SCHEDULING PERSONNEL TIME TO WORK ON THE EQUIP.

Narrative: FOR THE PAST 2 MONTHS I HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT LOSS OF PRIMARY RADAR TARGETS NW OF ANTENNA. IT INVOLVES MANY ACFT, REGARDLESS OF SIZE OR ALT. AIRWAYS FACILITIES IS AWARE OF PROB, BUT I BELIEVE THEY HAVE BEEN DRAGGING THEIR FEET, WAITING FOR BETTER WX OR STAFFING CONDITIONS. AIRWAYS FACILITIES PERSONNEL HAVE BEEN OVERWORKED LATELY, PROBABLY DUE TO CUTBACKS ON A NATIONAL LEVEL. THE SIT HAS, IN MY OPINION, BECOME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. I HAVE HAD TO TERMINATE RADAR SVCS ON ACFT (NON XPONDER) AT 1300 FT WITHIN THE INNER CIRCLE. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT POTENTIAL SAFETY PROBS ARISING FROM THE HIGH CONCENTRATION OF GA ACFT OPERATING IN THE AREA. MANY OF THESE ARE NOT XPONDER EQUIPPED AND OPERATE AT ALL DIFFERENT ALTS. IF WE CAN'T SEE THEM, AND TCASII CAN'T SEE THEM, WE HAVE NOTHING LEFT BUT THE OLD 'SEE AND AVOID.' TAKE ONE GIANT STEP BACKWARDS. ONLY AFTER I TOLD THE MGR THAT I WAS GOING TO FILE A UCR DID AIRWAYS FACILITIES SUDDENLY SPRING INTO ACTION. I FEAR THAT THE WAVE OF THE FUTURE IS GOING TO BE LIKE THIS. AIRWAYS FACILITIES WILL WAIT UNTIL THE EQUIP FAILS TOTALLY PRIOR TO DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

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.

A TRACON radar controller claims that there is a loss of primary radar targets northwest of the radar antenna. Supposedly, maintenance technicians are aware of the problem, but are having difficulties scheduling personnel time to work on the equipment.