ATC RADAR SHUTDOWN FOR MAINT.

Narrative

AT XA55Z; FLT STRIP PRINTER SENT A MESSAGE INDICATING THE GARDEN CITY LONG RANGE RADAR SITE AT GARDEN CITY; KS; WOULD SHUT DOWN AT XB00Z (5 MINS NOTICE) FOR 3 HRS. THIS INFO WAS PUBLISHED AS A SCHEDULED OUTAGE; BUT WAS NOT DISSEMINATED TO THE SECTOR. IN ADDITION; THESE SHUTDOWNS ARE APPARENTLY PRE-APPROVED MANY HRS IN ADVANCE. AS WE ALL KNOW A LOT CAN HAPPEN IN SEVERAL HRS. AT XC00Z THE GCK RADAR WAS SHUT DOWN WITHOUT ANY OTHER NOTIFICATION TO THE SECTOR. (THIS ASSUMING THE ABOVE MENTIONED STRIP WOULD HAVE BEEN DELIVERED IN THE FIRST PLACE.) BY SHEER 'ACT OF GOD' THE AFFECTED SECTOR WAS NOT: 1) ASSISTING A LOST ACFT WITH VECTORS. 2) MONITORING LONG RANGE VECTORS BTWN NAVAIDS. 3) ASSISTING LAW ENFORCEMENT ACFT IN THEIR DUTIES. 4) PROVIDING VECTORS TO FINAL APCH. 5) RADAR SEPARATING ACFT. 6) ASSISTING ACFT AROUND SEVERE WX. EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS THE NEED FOR SHUTDOWNS FOR MAINT. HOWEVER; TO ALLOW ANYONE OTHER THAN THE AFFECTED SECTOR TO HAVE FINAL APPROVAL BEFORE A NON-EMER SHUTDOWN IS TO INVITE AN EMER; WITH A POTENTIAL LOSS TO LIFE OR PROPERTY. MAINT KNOWS WHERE THE SECTOR IS. WE DON'T MOVE. A TELEPHONE CALL PRIOR TO ACTUAL SHUTDOWN IS NOT ONLY PRUDENT; BUT IN MY OPINION ESSENTIAL. IF THERE ARE COMPELLING REASONS TO DELAY A SHUTDOWN; THIS IS THE LAST CHANCE TO DO SO. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: CTR SUPVR STATED PROC IS TO NOTIFY POS WHEN COMING ON DUTY AND THEN FOR MAINT TO REQUEST FROM AREA SUPVR PERMISSION TO SHUT THE RADAR DOWN.