Narrative:

The sarasota radar does not display precipitation above level 3 in the alpha/numeric system area; even though WX above level 3 was shown on the real-time screen. In case levels 4; 5; or 6 are inadvertently de-selected; a pilot could be given inaccurate WX information and elect to fly through WX shown as level 3; when it actually is level 4; 5; or 6. When I asked the flm about this; he said the radar system was not broken and this was a known condition. I believe it is a known unsafe condition; and should be fixed.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TPA CTLR VOICED CONCERN REGARDING RADAR EQUIP'S LIMITATION REF VARIOUS LEVELS OF WX ACTIVITY.

Narrative: THE SARASOTA RADAR DOES NOT DISPLAY PRECIP ABOVE LEVEL 3 IN THE ALPHA/NUMERIC SYS AREA; EVEN THOUGH WX ABOVE LEVEL 3 WAS SHOWN ON THE REAL-TIME SCREEN. IN CASE LEVELS 4; 5; OR 6 ARE INADVERTENTLY DE-SELECTED; A PLT COULD BE GIVEN INACCURATE WX INFO AND ELECT TO FLY THROUGH WX SHOWN AS LEVEL 3; WHEN IT ACTUALLY IS LEVEL 4; 5; OR 6. WHEN I ASKED THE FLM ABOUT THIS; HE SAID THE RADAR SYS WAS NOT BROKEN AND THIS WAS A KNOWN CONDITION. I BELIEVE IT IS A KNOWN UNSAFE CONDITION; AND SHOULD BE FIXED.

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.