ARTS computer failed during heavy traffic conditions.

Attributes
ACN	128851
Time
Date	198911
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dfw
State Reference	TX
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dfw
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller military : 3 controller radar : 7
ASRS Report	128851
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 8
ASRS Report	128917
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
ATC Facility	other physical facility

Narrative:

A computer failure caused a loss of data blocks on aircraft during a busy arrival period, again!!! Better equipment is needed. This is one of the busiest approach controls in the country. If this keeps occurring, I'm afraid our luck will run out!! Supplemental information from acn 128917: failure of ARTS on ASR-8, resulting in loss of data block readouts for about 5 mins during heavy traffic. Center sectors advised to go into holding. Scramble by controllers prevented any incidents or accidents this time.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ARTS COMPUTER FAILED DURING HEAVY TRAFFIC CONDITIONS.

Narrative: A COMPUTER FAILURE CAUSED A LOSS OF DATA BLOCKS ON ACFT DURING A BUSY ARR PERIOD, AGAIN!!! BETTER EQUIP IS NEEDED. THIS IS ONE OF THE BUSIEST APCH CTLS IN THE COUNTRY. IF THIS KEEPS OCCURRING, I'M AFRAID OUR LUCK WILL RUN OUT!! SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 128917: FAILURE OF ARTS ON ASR-8, RESULTING IN LOSS OF DATA BLOCK READOUTS FOR ABOUT 5 MINS DURING HVY TFC. CENTER SECTORS ADVISED TO GO INTO HOLDING. SCRAMBLE BY CTLRS PREVENTED ANY INCIDENTS OR ACCIDENTS THIS TIME.

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.