Narrative:

On nov/thu/91, the dbrite used by the arrival/departure controller at fsd went blank for 12 mins. During this time, the controller had no radar to base their separation on, and the problem has occurred again on dec/XXX/91. The situation has progressed from an 'arcing' noise to the screen being blank. The noise started from the time that the dbrites were installed. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter experience: 2 yrs radar/3 yrs nonradar. The reporter stated a ucr has been filed with the concurrence of facility management. The dbrite scopes were installed about 1 yr ago. What the reporter calls 'arcing' is a clicking sound coming from the dbrite scope. This sound started about 1 month after installation. Af was notified and unable to fix. Several months later, the clicking sound would start and the radar scope would start to turn white, then flash and go blank. The presentation would return in about 30 seconds. This problem has progressed to its current state. Af has told the reporter it's the CRT. That's the problem and it will take 9 months to get a new one. The reporter said he called 2 facilities to ask if they had same problem (far and rst). They reported getting the clicking sound, but are not losing the radar presentation.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATC EQUIP PROBLEM RADAR SCOPE.

Narrative: ON NOV/THU/91, THE DBRITE USED BY THE ARR/DEP CTLR AT FSD WENT BLANK FOR 12 MINS. DURING THIS TIME, THE CTLR HAD NO RADAR TO BASE THEIR SEPARATION ON, AND THE PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED AGAIN ON DEC/XXX/91. THE SITUATION HAS PROGRESSED FROM AN 'ARCING' NOISE TO THE SCREEN BEING BLANK. THE NOISE STARTED FROM THE TIME THAT THE DBRITES WERE INSTALLED. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR EXPERIENCE: 2 YRS RADAR/3 YRS NONRADAR. THE RPTR STATED A UCR HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE CONCURRENCE OF FACILITY MGMNT. THE DBRITE SCOPES WERE INSTALLED ABOUT 1 YR AGO. WHAT THE RPTR CALLS 'ARCING' IS A CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE DBRITE SCOPE. THIS SOUND STARTED ABOUT 1 MONTH AFTER INSTALLATION. AF WAS NOTIFIED AND UNABLE TO FIX. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER, THE CLICKING SOUND WOULD START AND THE RADAR SCOPE WOULD START TO TURN WHITE, THEN FLASH AND GO BLANK. THE PRESENTATION WOULD RETURN IN ABOUT 30 SECONDS. THIS PROBLEM HAS PROGRESSED TO ITS CURRENT STATE. AF HAS TOLD THE RPTR IT'S THE CRT. THAT'S THE PROBLEM AND IT WILL TAKE 9 MONTHS TO GET A NEW ONE. THE RPTR SAID HE CALLED 2 FACILITIES TO ASK IF THEY HAD SAME PROBLEM (FAR AND RST). THEY RPTED GETTING THE CLICKING SOUND, BUT ARE NOT LOSING THE RADAR PRESENTATION.

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.