CMA CTLR EXPRESSED CONCERN REGARDING D-BRITE FUNCTIONALITY AND FAA MAINT LACK OF ACCESS TO REPAIR SAME ON MIL FAC DURING WEEKENDS.
Synopsis
CMA CTLR EXPRESSED CONCERN REGARDING D-BRITE FUNCTIONALITY AND FAA MAINT LACK OF ACCESS TO REPAIR SAME ON MIL FAC DURING WEEKENDS.
Narrative
FOR THE PAST SEVERAL DAYS; THE D-BRITE RADAR AT CMA ATCT HAS BEEN MARGINALLY USABLE WITH ALTS ON SECONDARY TARGETS SOMETIMES NOT READABLE. OCCASIONALLY; ESPECIALLY WITH LIMITED VISIBILITY (WHICH SEEMS TO INTERFERE WITH THE MICROWAVE RADAR SIGNAL) RADAR INFO IS NON-EXISTENT. THE AIRSPACE SAFETY IS COMPROMISED; ESPECIALLY IN AN ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH PLTS ARE ACCUSTOMED TO RECEIVING TA'S/ALERTS. RECENTLY; WHEN THE RADAR WAS FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY; A CTLR NOTICED THE UNSAFE PROX OF 2 ACFT AS INDICATED ON THE RADAR. THE CTLR ALERTED ONE OF THE ACFT WHICH TOOK EVASIVE ACTION AND IN THE ESTIMATION OF THE PLT HIMSELF PREVENTED A COLLISION. IF THE RADAR INFO HAD NOT BEEN AVAILABLE; OR WAS MARGINAL AS IT CURRENTLY IS; THIS SITUATION COULD HAVE RESULTED IN MULTIPLE DEATHS. AS WITH PAST FAILURES OF THIS NATURE; IT APPEARS THAT FAA TECHNICIANS ARE NOT ALLOWED ACCESS TO THE POINT MUGU RADAR EQUIP ON WEEKENDS (WHICH IS THE BUSIEST TFC IN GENERAL). DESPITE THE FACT THAT THIS SITUATION HAS BEEN REPEATEDLY COMPLAINED ABOUT; THERE HAS BEEN NO COOPERATION FROM THE MIL IN FACILITATING EQUIP ACCESS TO MY KNOWLEDGE. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THERE IS NEW EQUIP WHICH WAS TO HAVE BEEN INSTALLED BUT THAT PERSONNEL HAVE BEEN SENT TO A HIGHER PRIORITY FACILITY TO WORK ON OTHER ISSUES.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.