P31 CTLR SPOKESMAN CONCERNED WITH KNOWN HOLE IN RADAR COVERAGE BTWN THE NSE 063 DEG RADIAL 34 DME; AND NSE 103 DEG RADIAL 30 DME; WHEN RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST WITH AN SR20 GA ACFT AT 4000 FT.

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OZR MANUALLY HANDED OFF AN SR20/G 20 MI NE OF CEW VOR (NSE 063 DEG RADIAL AT 34 DME) AT 4000 FT LNDG DESTIN; FL. A MANUAL HDOF WAS NECESSITATED BECAUSE THE NSE ASR-8 RADAR ANTENNA WAS NOT DISPLAYING PRIMARY OR SECONDARY RADAR RETURNS ON THE ACFT. THE PNS ASR-8 RADAR ANTENNA; 15 MI FURTHER FROM THE ACFT; WAS DISPLAYING BOTH PRIMARY AND SECONDARY RETURNS ACCURATELY. THE NSE RADAR ANTENNA BEGAN TRACKING ACFT AT THE NSE 103 DEG RADIAL 30 DME; AT 3000 FT MSL. THIS GAP IN RADAR COVERAGE IS PERSISTENT AND PRESENT AT HIGHER ALTS. SEPARATING IFR ACFT WITHOUT PROPER RADAR COVERAGE IS TIME CONSUMING AND DISTRACTING; WHICH PRESENTS A HAZARD TO THE ACFT NOT BEING TRACKED AND ANY OTHER ACFT BEING SEPARATED BY THAT SECTOR CTLR. P31 TRACON IS TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED TO RECEIVE A RADAR PRESENTATION FEED FROM EGLIN'S ASR-11 FEED IN JUN/03. INSTALLATION OF THIS FEED SHOULD MITIGATE SOME; IF NOT ALL; OF THE RADAR COVERAGE ISSUES P31 ENCOUNTERS WHEN IT MUST ASSUME CTL OF EGLIN'S AIRSPACE ON MIDNIGHT SHIFTS AND WKENDS. THIS EQUIP MUST STAY ON SCHEDULE AND REMAIN BUDGETED TO ALLEVIATE SAFETY CONCERNS IN THE FORT WALTON BEACH TERMINAL AREA.