Controller claims that ASR-9 has problems with targets dropping or going into coast status in many a...

Attributes
ACN	259798
Time
Date	199312
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : slc
State Reference	UT
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 23000
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : slc
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	climbout : initial
Route In Use	departure other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 7
ASRS Report	259798
Person 2
Affiliation	government : military
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : military
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Navigational Facility
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
Navigational Aid	Unspecified

Narrative:

No one specific event to report. We have a big problem at slc TRACON with targets dropping off or coasting at many areas in the slc valley. We have 1 departure profile off hill air force base that we must see the departure or it is a separation error. Many times the departing aircraft fail to activate their transponder and this makes it almost impossible to identify the target. The radar system that we use (ASR-9) is known by the FAA to have these problems, but the dangerous sits still exist.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CTLR CLAIMS THAT ASR-9 HAS PROBS WITH TARGETS DROPPING OR GOING INTO COAST STATUS IN MANY AREAS.

Narrative: NO ONE SPECIFIC EVENT TO RPT. WE HAVE A BIG PROB AT SLC TRACON WITH TARGETS DROPPING OFF OR COASTING AT MANY AREAS IN THE SLC VALLEY. WE HAVE 1 DEP PROFILE OFF HILL AIR FORCE BASE THAT WE MUST SEE THE DEP OR IT IS A SEPARATION ERROR. MANY TIMES THE DEPARTING ACFT FAIL TO ACTIVATE THEIR XPONDER AND THIS MAKES IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO IDENT THE TARGET. THE RADAR SYS THAT WE USE (ASR-9) IS KNOWN BY THE FAA TO HAVE THESE PROBS, BUT THE DANGEROUS SITS STILL EXIST.

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.

Controller claims that ASR-9 has problems with targets dropping or going into coast status in many areas.