Narrative:

With the new stars program at sat ATCT we continually get false targets. These targets have beacon codes and mode C readouts. The false target tonight was five miles off the departure end of san antonio int'l airport. The false target traveled 5 miles north to south and descended from 2700 to 1900 ft. The code displayed was XXXX which was assigned to a T38 who was 20 miles south heading north on approach to skf. This is happening on a regular basis. Also; airplanes with one transponder on will suddenly be in conflict with a 'false beacon' code directly in the vicinity of the real airplane but mode C will differ by two to three hundred feet; leaving you to wonder if it is a real plane or a false plane. Controllers are getting so used to the false conflict alert; I feel that one day when a real plane is in the vicinity; the traffic calls will be delayed while the controller figures out if it is a real conflict or a false one. When supervisors are advised of the situation they elect not to do anything or might make a note for the automation specialist.callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter indicated that the stars equipment had been in place at sat for approximately 2 yrs with continuing problems that have been reported to management. The problem has improved from time to time but after every new software build the problems seem to reappear. The reporter's primary concern is that the problem is so commonplace; controllers are prone not to issue traffic believing the traffic is a false target; creating a potentially serious situation.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SAT APCH CTLR EXPRESSED CONCERN REGARDING THE STARS EQUIPMENT AND FALSE TARGETS THAT IN SOME CASES CONFLICT WITH THEMSELVES.

Narrative: WITH THE NEW STARS PROGRAM AT SAT ATCT WE CONTINUALLY GET FALSE TARGETS. THESE TARGETS HAVE BEACON CODES AND MODE C READOUTS. THE FALSE TARGET TONIGHT WAS FIVE MILES OFF THE DEP END OF SAN ANTONIO INT'L AIRPORT. THE FALSE TARGET TRAVELED 5 MILES N TO S AND DESCENDED FROM 2700 TO 1900 FT. THE CODE DISPLAYED WAS XXXX WHICH WAS ASSIGNED TO A T38 WHO WAS 20 MILES S HEADING N ON APCH TO SKF. THIS IS HAPPENING ON A REGULAR BASIS. ALSO; AIRPLANES WITH ONE XPONDER ON WILL SUDDENLY BE IN CONFLICT WITH A 'FALSE BEACON' CODE DIRECTLY IN THE VICINITY OF THE REAL AIRPLANE BUT MODE C WILL DIFFER BY TWO TO THREE HUNDRED FEET; LEAVING YOU TO WONDER IF IT IS A REAL PLANE OR A FALSE PLANE. CTLRS ARE GETTING SO USED TO THE FALSE CONFLICT ALERT; I FEEL THAT ONE DAY WHEN A REAL PLANE IS IN THE VICINITY; THE TFC CALLS WILL BE DELAYED WHILE THE CTLR FIGURES OUT IF IT IS A REAL CONFLICT OR A FALSE ONE. WHEN SUPVRS ARE ADVISED OF THE SITUATION THEY ELECT NOT TO DO ANYTHING OR MIGHT MAKE A NOTE FOR THE AUTOMATION SPECIALIST.CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR INDICATED THAT THE STARS EQUIPMENT HAD BEEN IN PLACE AT SAT FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 YRS WITH CONTINUING PROBS THAT HAVE BEEN RPTED TO MANAGEMENT. THE PROB HAS IMPROVED FROM TIME TO TIME BUT AFTER EVERY NEW SOFTWARE BUILD THE PROBS SEEM TO REAPPEAR. THE RPTR'S PRIMARY CONCERN IS THAT THE PROB IS SO COMMONPLACE; CTLRS ARE PRONE NOT TO ISSUE TFC BELIEVING THE TFC IS A FALSE TARGET; CREATING A POTENTIALLY SERIOUS SITUATION.

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.