ATC EQUIP PROB RADAR ASDE III.

Narrative

CLE TWR HAS TWO ASDE (GND RADAR) INSTALLATIONS. THE 'OLD' ASDE II IS SUBJECT TO BREAK DOWN AND PARTS FOR REPAIR ARE NOT AVAILABLE. THE 'NEW' ASDE III IS NOT WORKING DUE TO PROBS EXPERIENCED NATIONALLY WITH THE EQUIP. HOWEVER; THERE ARE LOCATIONS WHERE THE ASDE III IS WORKING AND USABLE UNDER OPERATIONAL READINESS DEMONSTRATION PARAMETERS. WHEN THE CEILING AND VISIBILITY DROPS BELOW 200 FT AND 1 1/2 MI; CTLRS BECOME BLIND. THE ONLY REQUIREMENT TO 'TURN ON' ASDE III IS: 1) OPERATIONAL READINESS DEMONSTRATION DETERMINATION. 2) LCL MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING. 3) TURN PWR SWITCH TO 'ON.' IT IS UNSATISFACTORY THAT WE ALLOW USABLE EQUIP TO SIT AND COLLECT DUST! CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: SFO QUATS STATED THAT THEY HAVE ASDE III BUT IT IS NOT COMMISSIONED. HE STATED IT IS A SOFTWARE PROB AND THEY ARE NOT SCHEDULED FOR COMMISSIONING UNTIL NOV/95. HE SAID SEA IS THE ONLY FACILITY WHERE ASDE II IS WORKING. SEA PLANS AND PROGRAMS OFFICER STATED ASDE III HAS BEEN COMMISSIONED AT SEA SINCE DEC/93. ASDE III WORKS FINE. ANTENNA IS NOT LOCATED ON TOP OF TWR. MAIN CTL PANEL IS NOT LOCATED IN TWR ONLY SCOPE ADJUSTMENT CTLS ARE LOCATED WITH THE RADAR SCOPE. THEY HAVE SOME MINOR STROBING BUT THIS IS ACCEPTABLE TO CTLRS. A PERMANENT ECHO IS LOCATED ON THE FIELD AND IS VISIBLE ON RADAR SCOPE. CLE SUPVR SAID ASDE ANTENNA IS LOCATED ON TOP OF TWR. THE REASON ASDE III IS NOT COMMISSIONED IS A SOFTWARE PROB. CLE IS SCHEDULED FOR COMMISSIONING SUMMER OF 1994.