A TRACON RADAR CTLR CLAIMS THAT THERE IS A LOSS OF PRIMARY RADAR TARGETS NW OF THE RADAR ANTENNA. SUPPOSEDLY; MAINT TECHNICIANS ARE AWARE OF THE PROB; BUT ARE HAVING DIFFICULTIES SCHEDULING PERSONNEL TIME TO WORK ON THE EQUIP.
Synopsis
A TRACON RADAR CTLR CLAIMS THAT THERE IS A LOSS OF PRIMARY RADAR TARGETS NW OF THE RADAR ANTENNA. SUPPOSEDLY; MAINT TECHNICIANS ARE AWARE OF THE PROB; BUT ARE HAVING DIFFICULTIES SCHEDULING PERSONNEL TIME TO WORK ON THE EQUIP.
Narrative
FOR THE PAST 2 MONTHS I HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT LOSS OF PRIMARY RADAR TARGETS NW OF ANTENNA. IT INVOLVES MANY ACFT; REGARDLESS OF SIZE OR ALT. AIRWAYS FACILITIES IS AWARE OF PROB; BUT I BELIEVE THEY HAVE BEEN DRAGGING THEIR FEET; WAITING FOR BETTER WX OR STAFFING CONDITIONS. AIRWAYS FACILITIES PERSONNEL HAVE BEEN OVERWORKED LATELY; PROBABLY DUE TO CUTBACKS ON A NATIONAL LEVEL. THE SIT HAS; IN MY OPINION; BECOME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. I HAVE HAD TO TERMINATE RADAR SVCS ON ACFT (NON XPONDER) AT 1300 FT WITHIN THE INNER CIRCLE. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT POTENTIAL SAFETY PROBS ARISING FROM THE HIGH CONCENTRATION OF GA ACFT OPERATING IN THE AREA. MANY OF THESE ARE NOT XPONDER EQUIPPED AND OPERATE AT ALL DIFFERENT ALTS. IF WE CAN'T SEE THEM; AND TCASII CAN'T SEE THEM; WE HAVE NOTHING LEFT BUT THE OLD 'SEE AND AVOID.' TAKE ONE GIANT STEP BACKWARDS. ONLY AFTER I TOLD THE MGR THAT I WAS GOING TO FILE A UCR DID AIRWAYS FACILITIES SUDDENLY SPRING INTO ACTION. I FEAR THAT THE WAVE OF THE FUTURE IS GOING TO BE LIKE THIS. AIRWAYS FACILITIES WILL WAIT UNTIL THE EQUIP FAILS TOTALLY PRIOR TO DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.