<< >> NASA ASRS Report 175059, April 1991

Secondary radar system (transponder) has numerous false targets. Targets jump and false targets ring around.

Attributes
ACN	175059
Time
Date	199104
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : abq
State Reference	NM
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : abq
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
ASRS Report	175059
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:

Secondary radar system at abq ATC tower were continuously failing to operate satisfactorily during this time period. Radar controllers have observed numerous false targets, 'ring around,' 'running rabbits,' and target jumps while using both beacon channel. Air traffic controllers have issued traffic alerts and turns to aircraft based on beacon targets that turned out to be false. FAA arwys facility personnel have been advised of the problem. This is an unsafe situation for all users at abq. Outside assistance has been requested.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SECONDARY RADAR SYSTEM (TRANSPONDER) HAS NUMEROUS FALSE TARGETS. TARGETS JUMP AND FALSE TARGETS RING AROUND.

Narrative: SECONDARY RADAR SYS AT ABQ ATC TWR WERE CONTINUOUSLY FAILING TO OPERATE SATISFACTORILY DURING THIS TIME PERIOD. RADAR CTLRS HAVE OBSERVED NUMEROUS FALSE TARGETS, 'RING AROUND,' 'RUNNING RABBITS,' AND TARGET JUMPS WHILE USING BOTH BEACON CHANNEL. AIR TFC CTLRS HAVE ISSUED TFC ALERTS AND TURNS TO ACFT BASED ON BEACON TARGETS THAT TURNED OUT TO BE FALSE. FAA ARWYS FAC PERSONNEL HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE PROB. THIS IS AN UNSAFE SITUATION FOR ALL USERS AT ABQ. OUTSIDE ASSISTANCE HAS BEEN REQUESTED.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.