Controller reporter deplores lack of backup power for radar scopes at geg.

Attributes
ACN	116288
Time
Date	198906
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : geg
State Reference	WA
Aircraft 1
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	other
Route In Use	arrival other departure other enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
ASRS Report	116288
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : unspecified other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
ATC Facility	other physical facility procedure or policy : unspecified

Narrative:

On 6/xz/89, the TRACON and tower cabin attendant experienced a commercial power failure which led to the loss of both primary and secondary radars. The commercial power was out for about 1.5 hours. During this time, backup power was used, but until maintenance could be called out to restore our radar, approach services had to be handled by seattle ARTCC, which severely curtails service, as they cannot provide any advisory service to VFR pilots. Power failures of varying intensities and results also occurred on 6/xy/89, 6/X/89 and 6/west/89. Other failures that were not documented also have occurred. There is almost always a loss of service, albeit briefly sometimes, with a loss of equipment as well. This facility has 2 radar positions staffed for about 14 hours/day; only one of these radar scopes is on the ups (uninterruptable power supply). Normally with a power failure the scope not on the ups will blow a fuse and will be unusable until maintenance can restore it.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CTLR REPORTER DEPLORES LACK OF BACKUP POWER FOR RADAR SCOPES AT GEG.

Narrative: ON 6/XZ/89, THE TRACON AND TWR CAB EXPERIENCED A COMMERCIAL POWER FAILURE WHICH LED TO THE LOSS OF BOTH PRIMARY AND SECONDARY RADARS. THE COMMERCIAL POWER WAS OUT FOR ABOUT 1.5 HRS. DURING THIS TIME, BACKUP POWER WAS USED, BUT UNTIL MAINT COULD BE CALLED OUT TO RESTORE OUR RADAR, APCH SERVICES HAD TO BE HANDLED BY SEATTLE ARTCC, WHICH SEVERELY CURTAILS SERVICE, AS THEY CANNOT PROVIDE ANY ADVISORY SERVICE TO VFR PLTS. POWER FAILURES OF VARYING INTENSITIES AND RESULTS ALSO OCCURRED ON 6/XY/89, 6/X/89 AND 6/W/89. OTHER FAILURES THAT WERE NOT DOCUMENTED ALSO HAVE OCCURRED. THERE IS ALMOST ALWAYS A LOSS OF SERVICE, ALBEIT BRIEFLY SOMETIMES, WITH A LOSS OF EQUIPMENT AS WELL. THIS FAC HAS 2 RADAR POSITIONS STAFFED FOR ABOUT 14 HRS/DAY; ONLY ONE OF THESE RADAR SCOPES IS ON THE UPS (UNINTERRUPTABLE POWER SUPPLY). NORMALLY WITH A POWER FAILURE THE SCOPE NOT ON THE UPS WILL BLOW A FUSE AND WILL BE UNUSABLE UNTIL MAINT CAN RESTORE IT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.