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An approach controller was not able to make automated handoffs to the adjacent air traffic facility due to equipment software problems during a busy session. 1 IFR aircraft was turned before reaching the airspace boundary because the handoff had not been completed.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 398943 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199804 |
| Day | Wed |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : ggg |
| State Reference | TX |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : ggg |
| Make Model Name | Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer |
| Operating Under FAR Part | other : unknown |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : approach |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Experience | controller non radar : 15 controller radar : 13 |
| ASRS Report | 398943 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : radar |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| 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:
During a busy radar session with 3 radar position combined, the ARTS iia would not allow me to make automated handoffs. As a result, 1 IFR aircraft had to be turned to contain it within my airspace while a manual handoff was made and 2 VFR aircraft were across the boundary before handoffs could be made. Besides replacing this system with a more modern/reliable system, the computer should sound some sort of alert when the interface fails. As it is, when a directed handoff fails, you should then try a handoff to any center sector, then repeat both handoffs by adding 'ok' to the entry to try to force the handoff. Usually, by this time, the aircraft is rapidly approaching the boundary of your airspace. If you need to make more than 1 handoff, you have lost the race before it starts. By the use of an alarm you would be forewarned and better able to avoid conflicts.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: AN APCH CTLR WAS NOT ABLE TO MAKE AUTOMATED HDOFS TO THE ADJACENT AIR TFC FACILITY DUE TO EQUIP SOFTWARE PROBS DURING A BUSY SESSION. 1 IFR ACFT WAS TURNED BEFORE REACHING THE AIRSPACE BOUNDARY BECAUSE THE HDOF HAD NOT BEEN COMPLETED.
Narrative: DURING A BUSY RADAR SESSION WITH 3 RADAR POS COMBINED, THE ARTS IIA WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO MAKE AUTOMATED HDOFS. AS A RESULT, 1 IFR ACFT HAD TO BE TURNED TO CONTAIN IT WITHIN MY AIRSPACE WHILE A MANUAL HDOF WAS MADE AND 2 VFR ACFT WERE ACROSS THE BOUNDARY BEFORE HDOFS COULD BE MADE. BESIDES REPLACING THIS SYS WITH A MORE MODERN/RELIABLE SYS, THE COMPUTER SHOULD SOUND SOME SORT OF ALERT WHEN THE INTERFACE FAILS. AS IT IS, WHEN A DIRECTED HDOF FAILS, YOU SHOULD THEN TRY A HDOF TO ANY CTR SECTOR, THEN REPEAT BOTH HDOFS BY ADDING 'OK' TO THE ENTRY TO TRY TO FORCE THE HDOF. USUALLY, BY THIS TIME, THE ACFT IS RAPIDLY APCHING THE BOUNDARY OF YOUR AIRSPACE. IF YOU NEED TO MAKE MORE THAN 1 HDOF, YOU HAVE LOST THE RACE BEFORE IT STARTS. BY THE USE OF AN ALARM YOU WOULD BE FOREWARNED AND BETTER ABLE TO AVOID CONFLICTS.
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.