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Phl controllers reports radar/data loss on stars equipment.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 576140 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200303 |
| Day | Tue |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : phl.tracon |
| State Reference | PA |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : approach |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Experience | controller radar : 13 |
| ASRS Report | 576140 |
| Events | |
| Independent Detector | other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : anomaly accepted |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | FAA Navigational Facility |
| Primary Problem | Navigational Facility |
| Situations | |
| ATC Facility | radar equipment : phl.tracon |
Narrative:
WX note--this is ongoing during all WX conditions--all types traffic effected. With the implementation of the new 'stars' radar system at phl (nov 2002) secondary and primary radar data, including ARTS tags are dropping off the radar displays. This is most consistent when phl is on a runway 9 operation during busy arrival traffic. This could cause serious incidents or accidents. The only notice to controller is 'be aware of loss of data.' callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter confirmed that both primary and secondary radar information was dropping off displays on a random basis. The west and southeast areas were reported as most effected especially when aircraft were at high speeds and in a turn. The reporter relayed that most occurrences were experienced with the arrival sectors, but that some departures were also not tagging up until 5 miles from the airport. The reporter claims that when supervisors are informed of this problem they reply, '...ya we know...' and nothing seems to be done. The problem is not even logged, because of the number of occurrences. The reporter further relayed that supervisors don't bother to call maintenance anymore, and if they do, maintenance looks at the display, may change beacon channels, and then leave.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: PHL CTLRS RPTS RADAR/DATA LOSS ON STARS EQUIP.
Narrative: WX NOTE--THIS IS ONGOING DURING ALL WX CONDITIONS--ALL TYPES TFC EFFECTED. WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEW 'STARS' RADAR SYSTEM AT PHL (NOV 2002) SECONDARY AND PRIMARY RADAR DATA, INCLUDING ARTS TAGS ARE DROPPING OFF THE RADAR DISPLAYS. THIS IS MOST CONSISTENT WHEN PHL IS ON A RWY 9 OP DURING BUSY ARRIVAL TFC. THIS COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INCIDENTS OR ACCIDENTS. THE ONLY NOTICE TO CTLR IS 'BE AWARE OF LOSS OF DATA.' CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR CONFIRMED THAT BOTH PRIMARY AND SECONDARY RADAR INFO WAS DROPPING OFF DISPLAYS ON A RANDOM BASIS. THE W AND SE AREAS WERE RPTED AS MOST EFFECTED ESPECIALLY WHEN ACFT WERE AT HIGH SPEEDS AND IN A TURN. THE RPTR RELAYED THAT MOST OCCURRENCES WERE EXPERIENCED WITH THE ARR SECTORS, BUT THAT SOME DEPS WERE ALSO NOT TAGGING UP UNTIL 5 MILES FROM THE ARPT. THE RPTR CLAIMS THAT WHEN SUPVRS ARE INFORMED OF THIS PROB THEY REPLY, '...YA WE KNOW...' AND NOTHING SEEMS TO BE DONE. THE PROB IS NOT EVEN LOGGED, BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF OCCURRENCES. THE RPTR FURTHER RELAYED THAT SUPVRS DON'T BOTHER TO CALL MAINT ANYMORE, AND IF THEY DO, MAINT LOOKS AT THE DISPLAY, MAY CHANGE BEACON CHANNELS, AND THEN LEAVE.
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.