<< >> NASA ASRS Report 424269, January 1999

ZSU ARTCC radar controller alleges deteriorating radar coverage northwest of the bqn VORTAC, 40-60 NM, 14000 ft to FL200.

Attributes
ACN	424269
Time
Date	199901
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : bqn airport : sju
State Reference	PR
Altitude	msl bound lower : 14000 msl bound upper : 20000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : tjzs
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	L-1011 Tri-Star All Series
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller military : 8 controller non radar : 4 controller radar : 4
ASRS Report	424269
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : unspecified other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Navigational Facility
Air Traffic Incident	Intra Facility Coordination Failure other
Situations
Navigational Aid	Unspecified

Narrative:

An H/L101/I departed the bqn airport nwbound. The aircraft disappeared 40 mi northwest of the airport leaving 14000 ft and reappeared 60 mi northwest at FL200. This happened around XA49 local. This has been happening for over 2 yrs now. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter states that ever since the last hurricane, radar coverage has become worse. Reporter alleges that maintenance went out to the site after the hurricane, performed pmi's, and when they returned, advised they had reduced power levels. Radar coverage has been the poorest northwest of bqn VORTAC, on R763, between 40-60 NM, 14000 ft to FL200. ZSU traffic management has implemented flow control with ZMA for inbound and outbound traffic using this route. The reporter states the work force was advised that loss of radar contact on R763 was a problem with antenna placement on jets. The reporter states that the loss of radar contact is a problem with inbounds and outbounds.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZSU ARTCC RADAR CTLR ALLEGES DETERIORATING RADAR COVERAGE NW OF THE BQN VORTAC, 40-60 NM, 14000 FT TO FL200.

Narrative: AN H/L101/I DEPARTED THE BQN ARPT NWBOUND. THE ACFT DISAPPEARED 40 MI NW OF THE ARPT LEAVING 14000 FT AND REAPPEARED 60 MI NW AT FL200. THIS HAPPENED AROUND XA49 LCL. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR OVER 2 YRS NOW. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATES THAT EVER SINCE THE LAST HURRICANE, RADAR COVERAGE HAS BECOME WORSE. RPTR ALLEGES THAT MAINT WENT OUT TO THE SITE AFTER THE HURRICANE, PERFORMED PMI'S, AND WHEN THEY RETURNED, ADVISED THEY HAD REDUCED PWR LEVELS. RADAR COVERAGE HAS BEEN THE POOREST NW OF BQN VORTAC, ON R763, BTWN 40-60 NM, 14000 FT TO FL200. ZSU TFC MGMNT HAS IMPLEMENTED FLOW CTL WITH ZMA FOR INBOUND AND OUTBOUND TFC USING THIS RTE. THE RPTR STATES THE WORK FORCE WAS ADVISED THAT LOSS OF RADAR CONTACT ON R763 WAS A PROB WITH ANTENNA PLACEMENT ON JETS. THE RPTR STATES THAT THE LOSS OF RADAR CONTACT IS A PROB WITH INBOUNDS AND OUTBOUNDS.

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.