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ZDV controller expressed concern with new host software that does not permit updating altitude assignments; as the old software version allowed.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 673836 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200510 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : zdv.artcc |
| State Reference | CO |
| Environment | |
| Light | Daylight |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : radar |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Experience | controller radar : 19 controller time certified in position1 : 19 |
| ASRS Report | 673836 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : detected after the fact |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | FAA |
| Primary Problem | FAA |
| Situations | |
| ATC Facility | computer equipment : zdv.artcc |
Narrative:
On or about oct/sun/05; a new software version was loaded into the host (main computer) system at the denver ARTCC. After attempting to use a common computer entry; it became evident that this new software version eliminated the /ia function that ATC controllers use to help coordination and keep information up to date with what aircraft are actually doing. This function is used frequently to change the temporary assigned altitude; as indicated in the aircraft's data block; on an aircraft you do not have track control of; but did at one time. This function; which has been in place for yrs; should never have been removed and needs to be returned as soon as possible to eliminate otherwise unnecessary coordination and return the ability to keep the data blocks of aircraft in the ATC system up to date and reflect what the aircraft is actually doing.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: ZDV CTLR EXPRESSED CONCERN WITH NEW HOST SOFTWARE THAT DOES NOT PERMIT UPDATING ALT ASSIGNMENTS; AS THE OLD SOFTWARE VERSION ALLOWED.
Narrative: ON OR ABOUT OCT/SUN/05; A NEW SOFTWARE VERSION WAS LOADED INTO THE HOST (MAIN COMPUTER) SYS AT THE DENVER ARTCC. AFTER ATTEMPTING TO USE A COMMON COMPUTER ENTRY; IT BECAME EVIDENT THAT THIS NEW SOFTWARE VERSION ELIMINATED THE /IA FUNCTION THAT ATC CTLRS USE TO HELP COORD AND KEEP INFO UP TO DATE WITH WHAT ACFT ARE ACTUALLY DOING. THIS FUNCTION IS USED FREQUENTLY TO CHANGE THE TEMPORARY ASSIGNED ALT; AS INDICATED IN THE ACFT'S DATA BLOCK; ON AN ACFT YOU DO NOT HAVE TRACK CTL OF; BUT DID AT ONE TIME. THIS FUNCTION; WHICH HAS BEEN IN PLACE FOR YRS; SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN REMOVED AND NEEDS TO BE RETURNED ASAP TO ELIMINATE OTHERWISE UNNECESSARY COORD AND RETURN THE ABILITY TO KEEP THE DATA BLOCKS OF ACFT IN THE ATC SYS UP TO DATE AND REFLECT WHAT THE ACFT IS ACTUALLY DOING.
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.