Narrative:

For many months now; the ground control bar code reader; which advances departure aircraft in the dsp system; has been connected to the display by the local control 2 (LC2) position. Any errors generated at the ground control bar code reader would 'lock-up' the LC2 display; requiring the ground controller to move to that position to clear the error message. Additionally; if the LC2 controller was making entries on the LC2 display as the ground controller was using the bar code reader; departure aircraft would not advance. The consequences are a distracted ground controller who must move away from his or her position to clear error messages; and an incorrect line-up displayed on the dsp to departure control. Now; in an apparent attempt to alleviate this problem; the ground control bar code reader now appears to be connected to a new flight data dsp display; which is positioned even further from the ground controller. In the event of the same errors described above; the ground controller must now move even further from his or her control position to clear the dsp error; providing an even greater distraction. Failure to correct this problem and eliminate this distraction can lead to controller error and contribute to an aircraft accident or incident. When the dsp system was first installed; the ground control bar code reader was connected to the ground control dsp display; directly in front of the ground controller; which made errors readily apparent to the controller and easy to clear. It appears the contractor for this equipment has been either unable or unwillingly to connect the bar code reader to this display. A fix must be made to connect the bar code reader to the ground control dsp display.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: JFK Controller expressed concern regarding the existing bar code reader connectivity; claiming the requirement to move to other Tower locations to make corrections is distracting; interfering with Controller responsibilities.

Narrative: For many months now; the Ground Control bar code reader; which advances departure aircraft in the DSP system; has been connected to the display by the Local Control 2 (LC2) position. Any errors generated at the Ground Control bar code reader would 'lock-up' the LC2 display; requiring the Ground Controller to move to that position to clear the error message. Additionally; if the LC2 Controller was making entries on the LC2 display as the Ground Controller was using the bar code reader; departure aircraft would not advance. The consequences are a distracted Ground Controller who must move away from his or her position to clear error messages; and an incorrect line-up displayed on the DSP to Departure Control. Now; in an apparent attempt to alleviate this problem; the Ground Control bar code reader now appears to be connected to a new Flight Data DSP display; which is positioned even further from the Ground Controller. In the event of the same errors described above; the Ground Controller must now move even further from his or her control position to clear the DSP error; providing an even greater distraction. Failure to correct this problem and eliminate this distraction can lead to Controller error and contribute to an aircraft accident or incident. When the DSP system was first installed; the Ground Control bar code reader was connected to the Ground Control DSP display; directly in front of the Ground Controller; which made errors readily apparent to the Controller and easy to clear. It appears the contractor for this equipment has been either unable or unwillingly to connect the bar code reader to this display. A fix must be made to connect the bar code reader to the Ground Control DSP display.

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.