Radar controller at dab claims when the patrick (cof) radar system is OTS, dab approach must use the...

Attributes
ACN	491890
Time
Date	200011
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
State Reference	FL
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dab.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Cheetah, Tiger, Traveler
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 24
ASRS Report	491890
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Navigational Facility
Primary Problem	Navigational Facility
Situations
Airspace Structure	class c : dab.c class e : dab.e

Narrative:

The problem is simple. Primary radar at patrick is off the air more than on. When using secondary radar from center the coverage below 3500 ft is very, very weak. To prevent this lack of coverage, install ASR 11 as soon as possible. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter stated that eventually approach facilities in the region will be combined into one large control facility as is currently being done in other pats of the country. When that happens the radar problems they are having now will be eliminated. Dab is a level 5 facility and handle up to 2800 operations a day. The operations are mostly flying schools in the area. He said what is immediately needed is FAA technical support to help the patrick military radar technicians bring their radar up to better standards. He said the military technicians would welcome the assistance.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: RADAR CTLR AT DAB CLAIMS WHEN THE PATRICK (COF) RADAR SYS IS OTS, DAB APCH MUST USE THE ZMA SECONDARY RADAR, WHICH HAS VERY POOR COVERAGE, TO PROVIDE RADAR SVC.

Narrative: THE PROB IS SIMPLE. PRIMARY RADAR AT PATRICK IS OFF THE AIR MORE THAN ON. WHEN USING SECONDARY RADAR FROM CTR THE COVERAGE BELOW 3500 FT IS VERY, VERY WEAK. TO PREVENT THIS LACK OF COVERAGE, INSTALL ASR 11 ASAP. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATED THAT EVENTUALLY APCH FACILITIES IN THE REGION WILL BE COMBINED INTO ONE LARGE CTL FACILITY AS IS CURRENTLY BEING DONE IN OTHER PATS OF THE COUNTRY. WHEN THAT HAPPENS THE RADAR PROBS THEY ARE HAVING NOW WILL BE ELIMINATED. DAB IS A LEVEL 5 FACILITY AND HANDLE UP TO 2800 OPS A DAY. THE OPS ARE MOSTLY FLYING SCHOOLS IN THE AREA. HE SAID WHAT IS IMMEDIATELY NEEDED IS FAA TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO HELP THE PATRICK MIL RADAR TECHNICIANS BRING THEIR RADAR UP TO BETTER STANDARDS. HE SAID THE MIL TECHNICIANS WOULD WELCOME THE ASSISTANCE.

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.

Radar controller at dab claims when the patrick (cof) radar system is OTS, dab approach must use the ZMA secondary radar, which has very poor coverage, to provide radar service.