Narrative:

The user request evaluation tool (uret) computer system apparently was broken when I started my shift at XC00. A general information (gi) message had been sent out on the flight strip printers to the control sectors stating: 'ZMP has a uret problem affecting uret conflict indications and groundspeeds. We plan to swap our cp server tonight which should correct the problem. ZMP/nom.' this condition existed from before XA00 and as I write this at XA20 it's assumed that the 'server swap' will take place after midnight; as that is when they usually do computer maintenance. Uret is used to trial-plan requested routes and altitudes and gives alerts on aircraft that are predicted to get too close. It has never been 100% accurate and cannot be used for separation; controllers are told it is a 'tool' only; and separation is their responsibility. However; many controllers use uret to warn of potential problems and take control action based on the alerts in uret. The problem made the conflict alerts in uret inaccurate; with erroneous alerts or no alerts at all on aircraft. Since the alerts could not be disabled; controllers were distracted by the erroneous alerts and were told to simply not use the alert system at all; which is a primary part of uret in regards to air traffic. Without the alerts functioning properly; uret becomes a crippled system which in turn becomes a distraction to controllers working. Allegedly the air traffic system has redundancy; so that when one system fails; another backup system takes its place. However; as apparently the ZMP managers decided there was no backup/replacement system for uret; they made the decision to use the system broken for the day and simply told controllers to ignore the broken part. This caused distractions to the workforce which ultimately led to a degradation of safety within the air traffic system.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A ZMP Controller voiced concern regarding a long term outage of the URET conflict probe function; claiming partial use was distracting.

Narrative: The user request evaluation tool (URET) computer system apparently was broken when I started my shift at XC00. A general information (GI) message had been sent out on the flight strip printers to the control sectors stating: 'ZMP has a URET problem affecting URET conflict indications and groundspeeds. We plan to swap our CP server tonight which should correct the problem. ZMP/NOM.' This condition existed from before XA00 and as I write this at XA20 it's assumed that the 'server swap' will take place after midnight; as that is when they usually do computer maintenance. URET is used to trial-plan requested routes and altitudes and gives alerts on aircraft that are predicted to get too close. It has never been 100% accurate and cannot be used for separation; controllers are told it is a 'tool' only; and separation is their responsibility. However; many controllers use URET to warn of potential problems and take control action based on the alerts in URET. The problem made the conflict alerts in URET inaccurate; with erroneous alerts or no alerts at all on aircraft. Since the alerts could not be disabled; controllers were distracted by the erroneous alerts and were told to simply not use the alert system at all; which is a primary part of URET in regards to air traffic. Without the alerts functioning properly; URET becomes a crippled system which in turn becomes a distraction to controllers working. Allegedly the air traffic system has redundancy; so that when one system fails; another backup system takes its place. However; as apparently the ZMP managers decided there was no backup/replacement system for URET; they made the decision to use the system broken for the day and simply told controllers to ignore the broken part. This caused distractions to the workforce which ultimately led to a degradation of safety within the air traffic system.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.