Problems with ARTS IIIA computer program causes loss of data.

Attributes
ACN	117209
Time
Date	198907
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : dfw
State Reference	TX
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sna
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller military : 3 controller radar : 8
ASRS Report	117209
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller military : 8 controller radar : 8
ASRS Report	117203
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
ATC Facility	other physical facility

Narrative:

Continuous loss of altitude data on ARTS III alphanumerics due to known deficiency in srap (sensor receiver and processor) on my radar. Effects my workload, stress, and ability to give traffic advisories in the nation's 2ND busiest terminal approach airspace at dfw TRACON. Supplemental information from acn 117203: dfw TRACON uses the ARTS A303 computer program. Since its inception it has been plagued by failure. This specific event was caused by the automation staff's testing of a 'traffic count patch'. The patch failed and brought the computer system to a system shutdown and failure. I believe the field testing of software/hardware equipment should be stopped or severely restructured in its evaluation with live traffic.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PROBLEMS WITH ARTS IIIA COMPUTER PROGRAM CAUSES LOSS OF DATA.

Narrative: CONTINUOUS LOSS OF ALT DATA ON ARTS III ALPHANUMERICS DUE TO KNOWN DEFICIENCY IN SRAP (SENSOR RECEIVER AND PROCESSOR) ON MY RADAR. EFFECTS MY WORKLOAD, STRESS, AND ABILITY TO GIVE TFC ADVISORIES IN THE NATION'S 2ND BUSIEST TERMINAL APCH AIRSPACE AT DFW TRACON. SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION FROM ACN 117203: DFW TRACON USES THE ARTS A303 COMPUTER PROGRAM. SINCE ITS INCEPTION IT HAS BEEN PLAGUED BY FAILURE. THIS SPECIFIC EVENT WAS CAUSED BY THE AUTOMATION STAFF'S TESTING OF A 'TFC COUNT PATCH'. THE PATCH FAILED AND BROUGHT THE COMPUTER SYSTEM TO A SYSTEM SHUTDOWN AND FAILURE. I BELIEVE THE FIELD TESTING OF SOFTWARE/HARDWARE EQUIPMENT SHOULD BE STOPPED OR SEVERELY RESTRUCTURED IN ITS EVALUATION WITH LIVE TFC.

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.