ATC RPTR ALLEGES THAT HIS FACILITY'S TDWR EQUIP IS UNRELIABLE AND HAS FAILED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. RPTR IS CONCERNED THAT THE LACK OF TDWR INFO COULD COMPROMISE SAFETY.

Narrative

THE TDWR AT MCI CONTINUALLY FAILS. ESPECIALLY WHEN WX IS IN THE AREA. THIS PARTICULAR DAY; SEVERE WX WAS IN THE AREA AND THE TDWR WENT DOWN. IT WAS LEARNED LATER; DUE TO THE DAMAGE THE STORM CAUSED; THAT MICROBURSTS WERE PRESENT IN THIS SYS. WE HAD NO WAY TO TELL PLTS OR ADJACENT FACILITIES OF THE POTENTIAL THIS STORM SYS HAD. APPARENTLY THE MOTORS THAT CTL BOTH AZIMUTH AND ELEVATION OF THE TDWR HAD FAILED. THESE MOTORS HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE DURING THE LAST YR. ACCORDING TO MAINT; THE TDWR SYS IS ALREADY PLAGUED BY TELEPHONE LINE PROBS. WITH THE ADDITIONAL PROBS THESE INFERIOR MOTORS PRESENT; THE SYS MIGHT AS WELL BE REMOVED FROM SVC AND REPLACED WITH THE OLDER; MORE RELIABLE LLWAS SYS. THE BOTTOM LINE IS THIS: WHAT GOOD DOES A PIECE OF EXPENSIVE EQUIP DO FOR THE FLYING PUBLIC IF THE CTLRS CAN'T RELY ON IT FOR TIMELY INFO. IT'S LIKE INSTALLING NEW RADIOS IN THE FACILITY ONLY TO HAVE THEM FAIL NEARLY EVERY TIME WE KEY THE MIKE. SOMEBODY SOLD THE FAA A BILL OF GOODS ON THE TDWR. WHEN IT WORKS; IT WORKS WELL -- IT JUST DOESN'T WORK THAT OFTEN -- ESPECIALLY WHEN WX IT WAS DESIGNED TO SCRUTINIZE IS IN THE AREA.