RPTR STATES THAT REGIONAL OFFICE PERSONNEL REFUSED TO AUTHORIZE AN IMMEDIATE CALLOUT OF A TECHNICIAN TO REPAIR ATC EQUIP ON A WKEND; CONTRARY TO A FACILITY ORDER. RPTR ALSO STATES THAT FACILITY WAS TOLD THEY WOULD HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE NEXT NORMAL WORK DAY BECAUSE OF BUDGET CONSTRAINTS.

Narrative

THE ERIE APCH CTL RADAR EMER OBSTRUCTION VIDEO MAP FAILED ON MAY/XA/99. ERIE LCL ORDERS DICTATE IMMEDIATE TECHNICIAN CALLBACK FOR REPAIRS. ERIE CALLED REGIONAL COORD CTR; WAS NOTIFIED OF MAP FAILURE. REGIONAL COORD CTR ADVISED THEY WOULD NOT INITIATE ANY CALLBACK PROCS; THAT THE TECHNICIANS WOULD REPAIR EMER OBSTRUCTION VIDEO MAP ON MAY/XC/99 WHEN THEY RETURN FOR NORMAL TOUR OF DUTY. FAA 7210.3P (PARAGRAPH 3-9-4) AND FAA 7110.65L (PARAGRAPH 10-2-15) DICTATES CRITERIA FOR EMER OBSTRUCTION VIDEO MAP WAGE AND STATE THE EMER OBSTRUCTION VIDEO MAP SHALL BE USED WHEN AN EMER EXISTS DUE TO THE INABILITY OF AN ACFT TO MAINTAIN APPROPRIATE TERRAIN/OBSTRUCTION CLRNC MINIMUM ALT. THE EMER OBSTRUCTION VIDEO MAP IS THE CTLR'S ONLY RADAR TOOL WITH EMER ALTS; OBSTRUCTIONS; TERRAIN AND LOCATIONS OF EMER LNDG ARPTS. REGIONAL COORD CTR WAS AGAIN CONTACTED ON MAY/XB/99 REGARDING THIS OUTAGE. ANSWER WAS THE SAME -- NO REPAIRS UNTIL MAY/XC/99. THE REASON GIVEN WAS FAA BUDGETARY CONSTRAINTS. THIS RAISES DEEP CONCERNS ABOUT BUDGETARY CONCERNS RECEIVING PRIORITY OVER EMER PROCS FOR ACFT OPS. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: EQUIP WAS REPAIRED THE NEXT NORMAL WORKING DAY. THE LCL ORDER THAT HAD PREVIOUSLY INDICATED THAT THIS PIECE OF EQUIP BE REPAIRED IMMEDIATELY WAS CHANGED. IT NOW READS; NEXT DAY RESTORATION. RPTR RECONFIRMED THAT SEVERAL TIME LINES FOR EQUIP RESTORATION HAVE BEEN REVISED TO ACCOMMODATE THE FAA'S CURRENT BUDGET SHORTFALL. THIS ALSO PRIORITIZES WHAT REPAIRS CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED ON WKENDS. RPTR HAS BROUGHT THIS SIT TO THE ATTN OF HIS CONGRESS PERSON.