TWR GND CTLR AT CPS CLAIMS COUNTER MOUNTED D-BRITE RADAR OBSTRUCTS THE VIEW OF THE GND AND LCL CTLR POSITIONS. THIS PROB MAY HAVE CAUSED A RWY INCURSION.

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AFTER WAITING WITH GREAT ANTICIPATION OUR TWR WAS EQUIPPED WITH A D-BRITE IN 05/1997. BECAUSE THE TWR IS SUPPOSED TO BE REPLACED; A DECISION WAS MADE TO COUNTER MOUNT THE BRITE INSTEAD OF STANDARD HANGING FROM THE CEILING FOR $10;000. IT'S OFTEN JUST IN THE WAY! EVEN TRYING TO SEE OVER; UNDER; OR AROUND IT; IT BLOCKS TFC. THIS PARTICULAR DAY; A CESSNA PULLED ONTO THE RWY (12R AT E) WITH A BARON ON A HALF MI OR LESS FINAL. ON GND CTL; I COULD SEE THE CESSNA ON THE RWY (BUT DIDN'T KNOW HE WASN'T TALKING TO TWR); BUT I DIDN'T SEE THE BARON ON FINAL BEHIND THE BRITE. LCL CTL COULD SEE THE BARON ON FINAL BUT DIDN'T SEE THE CESSNA ON THE RWY BEHIND THE BRITE. THE ONLY ONE IN THE SCENARIO WHO COULD SEE IT ALL WAS THE BARON. IT'S A BAD DEAL ALL AROUND TO SAVE THE AGENCY $10;000. WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE A BRITE AFTER 20 YRS WITH NONE; BUT IT'S A DANGEROUS OBSTRUCTION TO OUR VISIBILITY IN THE TWR. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH THE RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR WAS WORKING GND CTL AND SAID THE C182 PLT TAXIED ONTO THE RWY WITHOUT A CLRNC. THE RPTR WAS NOT SURE THE INCIDENT WAS RPTED AS A RWY INCURSION. THE RPTR SAID EVEN A STANDING CTLR CANNOT SEE CLRLY AROUND THE CONSOLE MOUNTED D-BRITE.