TEMPORARY MOBILE RADAR SITE DOES NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE COVERAGE.

Narrative

AUG/92 HURRICANE ANDREW DESTROYED THE PRIMARY RADAR FACILITY IN SOUTHERN; FL. SHORTLY THEREAFTER A MOBILE FACILITY WAS BROUGHT ON LINE (MOBILE ENRTE RADAR FACILITY - MERF). THE BEST GUESS FOR A NEW PERMANENT FACILITY WAS 1996. MORE THAN 3 UCR'S WERE FILED WITH THE FAA REGARDING THE MERF'S PERFORMANCE. JUN/XX/93 THE MERF TOOK A LIGHTNING STRIKE. IT LOOKS LIKE MONTHS TO REPLACE THE INTERNAL DAMAGE. THE ENRTE FACILITY (ARTCC) IS WITHOUT ANY WX DATA OR RADAR RETURNS (PRIMARY OR SECONDARY). CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: RPTR SAYS THAT THE LIGHTNING STRIKE PROB HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF. HOWEVER; THE RADAR IS ONLY CAPABLE OF SHOWING SECONDARY RADAR; NOT PRIMARY TARGETS. IN ADDITION; THE WX PRESENTATION IS NON EXISTENT OVER WATER BTWN MIA AND SJR. 2 UCR'S HAVE BEEN FILED BY RPTR WITH ONE OF THEM CLOSED. FACILITY FEELS THAT THE CURRENT RADAR PROVIDES SUFFICIENT COVERAGE UNTIL THEY CAN GET NEW RADAR SOMETIME IN 1996 OR 1997. THIS RADAR REPLACES THE RICHMOND RADAR AND IS LOCATED IN THE SAME VICINITY. RPTR ALSO STATES THAT IT INCREASES CTLR WORKLOAD; AND HAS LIMITATIONS TO THE NE AT LOW ALT. THERE HAVE BEEN NO OPERRORS OR DEALS YET.