Iad local controller challenged by sunshade physical condition obscuring airport operations.

Attributes
ACN	538321
Time
Date	200202
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dca.airport
State Reference	DC
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : supervisor controller : local oversight : supervisor
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller military : 7 controller radar : 13 controller supervisory : 2 flight time total : 225
ASRS Report	538321
Events
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Facility FAA
Primary Problem	FAA
Situations
ATC Facility	other physical facility

Narrative:

The sunshades at dulles tower have become so scratched and worn that when the sun is low in the sky, they are opaque. We lose sight of aircraft at certain times of the day. We are told there is no money for new shades. This is a safety issue. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter has communicated safety issue with union and supervisor. Controller was advised that cleaning can only be completed by an outside contractor and not FAA maintenance. Reporter was not aware when the last cleaning was accomplished.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: IAD LCL CTLR CHALLENGED BY SUNSHADE PHYSICAL CONDITION OBSCURING ARPT OPS.

Narrative: THE SUNSHADES AT DULLES TWR HAVE BECOME SO SCRATCHED AND WORN THAT WHEN THE SUN IS LOW IN THE SKY, THEY ARE OPAQUE. WE LOSE SIGHT OF ACFT AT CERTAIN TIMES OF THE DAY. WE ARE TOLD THERE IS NO MONEY FOR NEW SHADES. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR HAS COMMUNICATED SAFETY ISSUE WITH UNION AND SUPVR. CTLR WAS ADVISED THAT CLEANING CAN ONLY BE COMPLETED BY AN OUTSIDE CONTRACTOR AND NOT FAA MAINT. RPTR WAS NOT AWARE WHEN THE LAST CLEANING WAS ACCOMPLISHED.

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.