Controller reporter complains about ASR-9 system and losing all primary targets.

Attributes
ACN	211015
Time
Date	199205
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : stl
State Reference	MO
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	other personnel other
Qualification	controller : radar
ASRS Report	211015
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	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

Narrative:

I wrote you just a few days ago detailing some problems we are having with the ASR-9. Since I wrote you and filed an ucr the staff has put out the enclosed 'note to all personnel' dated 5/92. They make no mention of cancelling or superseding notice stl ATCT N7110.123, but I guess that is another matter for someone else to pursue. I should also mention since I last wrote that we lost all primary targets in our airspace for 3 sweeps on both the X and xy of may. I know that the occurrence on the X was logged on the 7230-4. Controllers are now starting to forward information on problems with the radar to me. One such occasion was on 5/X/92. A controller working low altitude lost the primary target of nga X. This aircraft was at 4000 ft on the 194 radial off lambert at 45 mi. Obviously this isn't a severe safety problem, but I feel it does point out the deficiency of the ASR-9. We have always had problems with the radar south of lambert at 45 mi. Most of it goes unrpted because controllers have become accustomed to it.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CTLR RPTR COMPLAINS ABOUT ASR-9 SYS AND LOSING ALL PRIMARY TARGETS.

Narrative: I WROTE YOU JUST A FEW DAYS AGO DETAILING SOME PROBLEMS WE ARE HAVING WITH THE ASR-9. SINCE I WROTE YOU AND FILED AN UCR THE STAFF HAS PUT OUT THE ENCLOSED 'NOTE TO ALL PERSONNEL' DATED 5/92. THEY MAKE NO MENTION OF CANCELLING OR SUPERSEDING NOTICE STL ATCT N7110.123, BUT I GUESS THAT IS ANOTHER MATTER FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO PURSUE. I SHOULD ALSO MENTION SINCE I LAST WROTE THAT WE LOST ALL PRIMARY TARGETS IN OUR AIRSPACE FOR 3 SWEEPS ON BOTH THE X AND XY OF MAY. I KNOW THAT THE OCCURRENCE ON THE X WAS LOGGED ON THE 7230-4. CTLRS ARE NOW STARTING TO FORWARD INFO ON PROBLEMS WITH THE RADAR TO ME. ONE SUCH OCCASION WAS ON 5/X/92. A CTLR WORKING LOW ALT LOST THE PRIMARY TARGET OF NGA X. THIS ACFT WAS AT 4000 FT ON THE 194 RADIAL OFF LAMBERT AT 45 MI. OBVIOUSLY THIS ISN'T A SEVERE SAFETY PROBLEM, BUT I FEEL IT DOES POINT OUT THE DEFICIENCY OF THE ASR-9. WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE RADAR S OF LAMBERT AT 45 MI. MOST OF IT GOES UNRPTED BECAUSE CTLRS HAVE BECOME ACCUSTOMED TO IT.

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.