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ZBW radar controllers observe radar fluctuations malfunctions which display incorrect and conflicting data tag information. Both controllers concerned with status of radar system.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 422162 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199812 |
| Day | Thu |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : zbw |
| State Reference | MA |
| Environment | |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tower : mke |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | descent other |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Aircraft 2 | |
| Make Model Name | Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer |
| Operating Under FAR Part | other : unknown |
| Flight Phase | cruise other |
| Flight Plan | VFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : radar |
| ASRS Report | 422162 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : flight data |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other controllera |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Air Traffic Incident | Intra Facility Coordination Failure other |
Narrative:
I was working the gdm sector when we experienced a total loss of reliable radar presentation. We had ghost returns on both discrete and non discrete beacons that appeared and our aircraft had data tags jump. Several of our aircraft were unidentifiable. During this occurrence, a B737 (aircraft X) was descending towards mht when an unidented VFR target (aircraft Y) appeared and merged together. I issued an immediate level off and advisory to the B737 and was later told they had nothing on TCASII. For both of us working the sector, we felt it was the most dangerous situation we have experienced with over 30 yrs of combined time working traffic.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: ZBW RADAR CTLRS OBSERVE RADAR FLUCTUATIONS MALFUNCTIONS WHICH DISPLAY INCORRECT AND CONFLICTING DATA TAG INFO. BOTH CTLRS CONCERNED WITH STATUS OF RADAR SYS.
Narrative: I WAS WORKING THE GDM SECTOR WHEN WE EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF RELIABLE RADAR PRESENTATION. WE HAD GHOST RETURNS ON BOTH DISCRETE AND NON DISCRETE BEACONS THAT APPEARED AND OUR ACFT HAD DATA TAGS JUMP. SEVERAL OF OUR ACFT WERE UNIDENTIFIABLE. DURING THIS OCCURRENCE, A B737 (ACFT X) WAS DSNDING TOWARDS MHT WHEN AN UNIDENTED VFR TARGET (ACFT Y) APPEARED AND MERGED TOGETHER. I ISSUED AN IMMEDIATE LEVEL OFF AND ADVISORY TO THE B737 AND WAS LATER TOLD THEY HAD NOTHING ON TCASII. FOR BOTH OF US WORKING THE SECTOR, WE FELT IT WAS THE MOST DANGEROUS SIT WE HAVE EXPERIENCED WITH OVER 30 YRS OF COMBINED TIME WORKING TFC.
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.