Narrative:

I was working the RA-1 position at the sju cerap; which is a radar assistant or coordinating position. Traffic was busy; and training was in progress; when on more than one occasion I almost missed observing some potential conflicts due to the display limitations; as described below. The sju cerap has new radar scopes that reflect the lights that surround them and have a very limited field of vision. The previous radar scopes that were replaced were not affected by any type of illumination and had a wide field of vision. The controller sitting directly behind these new scopes gets some glare; but the traffic can be worked with no significant problem. The problem arises when a controller is assigned to train or coordinate. In both cases; the controller is not directly behind the scopes. He is to one of the sides of the scope because another controller is sitting behind the same scope. As you move to the sides of the scope; the glare increases and the display data at the scopes is no longer visible; creating a dangerous situation where the data cannot be seen clearly by the coordinating or training controller. This creates a lack of positive control when coordinating or training; since the coordinating/training controller cannot clearly see all traffic due to the reasons stated above. The problem could be corrected if the control room becomes completely dark or by testing of other illumination colors that don't create as much glare on the scopes. The only real solution is to replace the existing displays with other displays that have a wide field of vision. This will improve the safety in our operation. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter stated the equipment in question was the new displays for micro-east ARTS. The reporter indicated that the local union 'signed off' on the equipment and its functionality. A recent ucr has reportedly been filed regarding the equipment.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SJU CTLR EXPRESSED CONCERN REGARDING THE GLARE ON NEW RADAR DISPLAY EQUIP THAT IMPACTS THE ABILITY OF TRAINING AND COORDINATION CTLRS TO VIEW TFC.

Narrative: I WAS WORKING THE RA-1 POSITION AT THE SJU CERAP; WHICH IS A RADAR ASSISTANT OR COORDINATING POSITION. TFC WAS BUSY; AND TRAINING WAS IN PROGRESS; WHEN ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION I ALMOST MISSED OBSERVING SOME POTENTIAL CONFLICTS DUE TO THE DISPLAY LIMITATIONS; AS DESCRIBED BELOW. THE SJU CERAP HAS NEW RADAR SCOPES THAT REFLECT THE LIGHTS THAT SURROUND THEM AND HAVE A VERY LIMITED FIELD OF VISION. THE PREVIOUS RADAR SCOPES THAT WERE REPLACED WERE NOT AFFECTED BY ANY TYPE OF ILLUMINATION AND HAD A WIDE FIELD OF VISION. THE CTLR SITTING DIRECTLY BEHIND THESE NEW SCOPES GETS SOME GLARE; BUT THE TFC CAN BE WORKED WITH NO SIGNIFICANT PROB. THE PROB ARISES WHEN A CTLR IS ASSIGNED TO TRAIN OR COORDINATE. IN BOTH CASES; THE CTLR IS NOT DIRECTLY BEHIND THE SCOPES. HE IS TO ONE OF THE SIDES OF THE SCOPE BECAUSE ANOTHER CTLR IS SITTING BEHIND THE SAME SCOPE. AS YOU MOVE TO THE SIDES OF THE SCOPE; THE GLARE INCREASES AND THE DISPLAY DATA AT THE SCOPES IS NO LONGER VISIBLE; CREATING A DANGEROUS SIT WHERE THE DATA CANNOT BE SEEN CLEARLY BY THE COORDINATING OR TRAINING CTLR. THIS CREATES A LACK OF POSITIVE CTL WHEN COORDINATING OR TRAINING; SINCE THE COORDINATING/TRAINING CTLR CANNOT CLEARLY SEE ALL TFC DUE TO THE REASONS STATED ABOVE. THE PROB COULD BE CORRECTED IF THE CTL ROOM BECOMES COMPLETELY DARK OR BY TESTING OF OTHER ILLUMINATION COLORS THAT DON'T CREATE AS MUCH GLARE ON THE SCOPES. THE ONLY REAL SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE THE EXISTING DISPLAYS WITH OTHER DISPLAYS THAT HAVE A WIDE FIELD OF VISION. THIS WILL IMPROVE THE SAFETY IN OUR OP. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED THE EQUIP IN QUESTION WAS THE NEW DISPLAYS FOR MICRO-E ARTS. THE RPTR INDICATED THAT THE LCL UNION 'SIGNED OFF' ON THE EQUIP AND ITS FUNCTIONALITY. A RECENT UCR HAS REPORTEDLY BEEN FILED REGARDING THE EQUIP.

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.