ATC EQUIP PROB RADAR.

Narrative

EUGENE ATCT IS IN THE PROCESS OF UPDATING FROM AN ASR-5 RADAR TO AN ASR-8 RADAR. THE FLT CHK OF THE NEW ASR-8 WAS TO BE COMPLETED ON MAY/XX/93. AS OF MAY/XX/93 THE ASR-8 IS STILL NOT CERTIFIED FOR ATC USE. EUGENE HAS HAD TO RESORT TO USING CENRAP (CTR RADAR PRESENTATION) AND IN SOME CASES ZSE HAS HAD TO TAKE CTL OF THE AIRSPACE. CENRAP WAS DEVELOPED TO PROVIDE APCH CTL FACILITIES WITH CTR RADAR PROCESSING BY THE ARTS IN THE EVENT OF TERMINAL RADAR SYS FAILURE OR NONAVAILABILITY. CENRAP ONLY PROVIDES THE CTLR WITH BEACON INFO; THEREFORE THE ONLY TFC ISSUED TO USERS IS THAT OF XPONDER EQUIPPED ACFT. ADDITIONALLY; WX RETURNS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. WITH THE RECENT TSTM AND HAIL ACTIVITY THIS INFO WOULD BE MOST VALUABLE FOR THE SAFETY OF THE USERS. CURRENTLY THE ONLY TIME WORK IS PERFORMED TO FIND AND CORRECT PROBS IS DURING THE DAY. MON THROUGH FRI (WITH A COUPLE OF EXCEPTIONS). SINCE THIS PROJECT AFFECTS THE SAFETY OF SO MANY IT SHOULD BE AFFORDED 24 HRS A DAY; 7 DAYS A WK UNTIL OPERATIONAL AND CERTIFIED. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH REPORTER REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: FACILITY MGR STATED THE ASR-8 RADAR SYS HAS BEEN CERTIFIED WITH NO OPERATIONAL PROBS AT THIS TIME.