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Dab controller expressed frustration regarding continued failure of drop tube system; complicating radar identify procedure.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 653350 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200504 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : dab.tracon |
| State Reference | FL |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : approach |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Experience | controller limited radar : 11 controller radar : 12 controller time certified in position1 : 12 |
| ASRS Report | 653350 |
| Events | |
| Independent Detector | other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : unable |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | FAA |
| Primary Problem | FAA |
| Situations | |
| ATC Facility | other physical facility |
Narrative:
Manual drop tubes -- a long pvc pipe that runs from tower to radar rooms in which flight strips with aircraft information/route of flight are sent to the radar room. These 'drop tubes' are constantly getting clogged and information is not getting passed. This information is needed to properly identify a radar target. In accordance with FAA 7110.65 5-3-2a2 and note; if there is an automated process; a facility directive must exist and none does. As a result; misidenting an aircraft exists plus increasing workload on controllers to requiz pilots as to their route of flight and altitude request. Airway facilities which control the maintenance say they have no money and we have to work around it.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: DAB CTLR EXPRESSED FRUSTRATION REGARDING CONTINUED FAILURE OF DROP TUBE SYS; COMPLICATING RADAR IDENT PROC.
Narrative: MANUAL DROP TUBES -- A LONG PVC PIPE THAT RUNS FROM TWR TO RADAR ROOMS IN WHICH FLT STRIPS WITH ACFT INFO/RTE OF FLT ARE SENT TO THE RADAR ROOM. THESE 'DROP TUBES' ARE CONSTANTLY GETTING CLOGGED AND INFO IS NOT GETTING PASSED. THIS INFO IS NEEDED TO PROPERLY IDENT A RADAR TARGET. IN ACCORDANCE WITH FAA 7110.65 5-3-2A2 AND NOTE; IF THERE IS AN AUTOMATED PROCESS; A FACILITY DIRECTIVE MUST EXIST AND NONE DOES. AS A RESULT; MISIDENTING AN ACFT EXISTS PLUS INCREASING WORKLOAD ON CTLRS TO REQUIZ PLTS AS TO THEIR RTE OF FLT AND ALT REQUEST. AIRWAY FACILITIES WHICH CTL THE MAINT SAY THEY HAVE NO MONEY AND WE HAVE TO WORK AROUND IT.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.