Narrative:

I was working final west (arf) in a south confign. Mem was conducting simultaneous ILS approachs to runways 18L and 18R. Final east (arm) was open; and final monitors (fmw/fme) were open. Arm cleared air carrier Y; a B727; for the ILS runway 18L approach at 3000 ft. I cleared air carrier X; a H/MD11; for the ILS runway 18R approach at 4000 ft. Both aircraft were switched to the tower frequency prior to our 'step-down' fixes. As soon as air carrier X started to descend out of 4000 ft; the conflict alert alarm sounded at all TRACON stars position and a visual alert displayed on all TRACON stars position. Both aircraft were centered on their respective final approach courses; and no deviations were observed. Several mi later as air carrier X began to descend through 3000 ft; the conflict alert went off again. Both aircraft were centered on their respective final approach courses. As air carrier X and air carrier Y approached 5 mi final at 2000 ft on their final approach courses; the conflict alert activated again. Both aircraft were centered on their final approach courses. This is a common occurrence when mem is conducting simultaneous ILS approachs. The constant visual and aural alarms were a distraction to me. These erroneous alarms forced me to divert my attention from other traffic and developing sits. I believe that some of us are easily distraction by the conflict alert; while others have become completely immune to the conflict alert due to the number of times that we hear the alarm throughout the day.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MEM APCH CTLR EXPRESSED CONCERN REGARDING CONTINUOUS CONFLICT ALERT ALARMS EXPERIENCED DURING SIMULTANEOUS APCH PROCS TO RWYS 18L-R.

Narrative: I WAS WORKING FINAL W (ARF) IN A S CONFIGN. MEM WAS CONDUCTING SIMULTANEOUS ILS APCHS TO RWYS 18L AND 18R. FINAL E (ARM) WAS OPEN; AND FINAL MONITORS (FMW/FME) WERE OPEN. ARM CLRED ACR Y; A B727; FOR THE ILS RWY 18L APCH AT 3000 FT. I CLRED ACR X; A H/MD11; FOR THE ILS RWY 18R APCH AT 4000 FT. BOTH ACFT WERE SWITCHED TO THE TWR FREQ PRIOR TO OUR 'STEP-DOWN' FIXES. AS SOON AS ACR X STARTED TO DSND OUT OF 4000 FT; THE CONFLICT ALERT ALARM SOUNDED AT ALL TRACON STARS POS AND A VISUAL ALERT DISPLAYED ON ALL TRACON STARS POS. BOTH ACFT WERE CTRED ON THEIR RESPECTIVE FINAL APCH COURSES; AND NO DEVS WERE OBSERVED. SEVERAL MI LATER AS ACR X BEGAN TO DSND THROUGH 3000 FT; THE CONFLICT ALERT WENT OFF AGAIN. BOTH ACFT WERE CTRED ON THEIR RESPECTIVE FINAL APCH COURSES. AS ACR X AND ACR Y APCHED 5 MI FINAL AT 2000 FT ON THEIR FINAL APCH COURSES; THE CONFLICT ALERT ACTIVATED AGAIN. BOTH ACFT WERE CTRED ON THEIR FINAL APCH COURSES. THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE WHEN MEM IS CONDUCTING SIMULTANEOUS ILS APCHS. THE CONSTANT VISUAL AND AURAL ALARMS WERE A DISTR TO ME. THESE ERRONEOUS ALARMS FORCED ME TO DIVERT MY ATTN FROM OTHER TFC AND DEVELOPING SITS. I BELIEVE THAT SOME OF US ARE EASILY DISTR BY THE CONFLICT ALERT; WHILE OTHERS HAVE BECOME COMPLETELY IMMUNE TO THE CONFLICT ALERT DUE TO THE NUMBER OF TIMES THAT WE HEAR THE ALARM THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

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.