Approach controller at dab unable to adjust radar presentation.

Attributes
ACN	485726
Time
Date	200009
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : dab.tracon
State Reference	FL
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Light	Daylight
Person 1
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	controller military : 9 controller non radar : 10 controller radar : 30 controller supervisory : 6 flight time last 90 days : 0 flight time total : 400
ASRS Report	485726
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : supervisor
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : radar
Resolutory Action	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Maintenance Human Performance
Primary Problem	Maintenance Human Performance
Situations
ATC Facility	radar equipment : dab.tracon

Narrative:

On assuming the radar position for the patrick complex at dab approach control, WX returns covered most of the radar scope. I adjusted the scope to ensure primary and secondary targets were visible, and found that not possible. I advised the supervisor to adjust the master panel in the tower, which is supposed to control the patrick radar. No change in the presentation occurred, indicating we had no control of the system. Military maintenance was notified and personnel would not be available to release control or adjust until XB30 local time. From XA15 - XB30, we had no usable primary or secondary radar returns, and no control to adjust the system. I am assuming these conditions existed long before I took the position. Controllers should be aware of system outages. We should know if we have control of those system, and if we have no control of those radar system, maintenance personnel should be readily available to adjust and/or repair those vital system. It should be noted that this is not the first time similar conditions have existed including during shuttle launches.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: APCH CTLR AT DAB UNABLE TO ADJUST RADAR PRESENTATION.

Narrative: ON ASSUMING THE RADAR POS FOR THE PATRICK COMPLEX AT DAB APCH CTL, WX RETURNS COVERED MOST OF THE RADAR SCOPE. I ADJUSTED THE SCOPE TO ENSURE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY TARGETS WERE VISIBLE, AND FOUND THAT NOT POSSIBLE. I ADVISED THE SUPVR TO ADJUST THE MASTER PANEL IN THE TWR, WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO CTL THE PATRICK RADAR. NO CHANGE IN THE PRESENTATION OCCURRED, INDICATING WE HAD NO CTL OF THE SYS. MIL MAINT WAS NOTIFIED AND PERSONNEL WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE TO RELEASE CTL OR ADJUST UNTIL XB30 LCL TIME. FROM XA15 - XB30, WE HAD NO USABLE PRIMARY OR SECONDARY RADAR RETURNS, AND NO CTL TO ADJUST THE SYS. I AM ASSUMING THESE CONDITIONS EXISTED LONG BEFORE I TOOK THE POS. CTLRS SHOULD BE AWARE OF SYS OUTAGES. WE SHOULD KNOW IF WE HAVE CTL OF THOSE SYS, AND IF WE HAVE NO CTL OF THOSE RADAR SYS, MAINT PERSONNEL SHOULD BE READILY AVAILABLE TO ADJUST AND/OR REPAIR THOSE VITAL SYS. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME SIMILAR CONDITIONS HAVE EXISTED INCLUDING DURING SHUTTLE LAUNCHES.

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.