S56 controller expressed concern regarding stars equipment and perceived abnormalities.

Attributes
ACN	700871
Time
Date	200606
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : slc.airport
State Reference	UT
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : s56.tracon
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Experience	controller military : 24 controller radar : 27
ASRS Report	700871
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	FAA
Primary Problem	FAA
Situations
ATC Facility	radar equipment : s56.tracon

Narrative:

A secondary target with data block was observed 219 degrees and 5.18 mi from salt lake airport it showed no speed and an altitude of 46 MSL. Salt lake is operating an ASR 9 with stars and this problem is very common. 6 mins later; CRJ2 was cleared for a visual approach to runway 34L. On a 2 mi final; the ASR 9 with stars sounded a low altitude alert the aircraft was at a proper altitude. 18 mins later; a secondary target with data block was observed 053 degrees and 2.30 mi from salt lake airport it showed no speed and an altitude of 47 ft MSL. Salt lake is operating an ASR 9 with stars and this problem is very common. 12 mins later; a B737 was cleared for a visual approach to runway 34R. On a 3 mi final; the ASR 9 with stars sounded a low altitude alert. The aircraft was at 52 ft MSL; a proper altitude for the approach. 9 mins later; a CRJ2 was cleared for a visual approach to runway 34L. On a 3 mi final the ASR 9 with stars sounded a low altitude alert. The aircraft was at 55 ft MSL; a proper altitude for the approach.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: S56 CTLR EXPRESSED CONCERN REGARDING STARS EQUIP AND PERCEIVED ABNORMALITIES.

Narrative: A SECONDARY TARGET WITH DATA BLOCK WAS OBSERVED 219 DEGS AND 5.18 MI FROM SALT LAKE ARPT IT SHOWED NO SPD AND AN ALT OF 46 MSL. SALT LAKE IS OPERATING AN ASR 9 WITH STARS AND THIS PROB IS VERY COMMON. 6 MINS LATER; CRJ2 WAS CLRED FOR A VISUAL APCH TO RWY 34L. ON A 2 MI FINAL; THE ASR 9 WITH STARS SOUNDED A LOW ALT ALERT THE ACFT WAS AT A PROPER ALT. 18 MINS LATER; A SECONDARY TARGET WITH DATA BLOCK WAS OBSERVED 053 DEGS AND 2.30 MI FROM SALT LAKE ARPT IT SHOWED NO SPD AND AN ALT OF 47 FT MSL. SALT LAKE IS OPERATING AN ASR 9 WITH STARS AND THIS PROB IS VERY COMMON. 12 MINS LATER; A B737 WAS CLRED FOR A VISUAL APCH TO RWY 34R. ON A 3 MI FINAL; THE ASR 9 WITH STARS SOUNDED A LOW ALT ALERT. THE ACFT WAS AT 52 FT MSL; A PROPER ALT FOR THE APCH. 9 MINS LATER; A CRJ2 WAS CLRED FOR A VISUAL APCH TO RWY 34L. ON A 3 MI FINAL THE ASR 9 WITH STARS SOUNDED A LOW ALT ALERT. THE ACFT WAS AT 55 FT MSL; A PROPER ALT FOR THE APCH.

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.