Narrative:

At salt lake TRACON we use the ASR-9 system with a modification to the beacon system. I think a mode south system was added about 3 months ago. Problem is we are always losing radar targets and beacon data at random locations throughout our airspace at various altitudes. The controllers have to rely on position reports and altitude reports to provide separation. I would like it if you would call me or write me concerning this information. This is a nationwide problem that needs attention as soon as possible. I would also like to get copies of your data base on this subject. Thank you. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter claims that the worst area for non radar is military aircraft departing runway 14. In some cases, they may not pick up the aircraft until approximately 30 mi away. Ghosting, coasting, false WX echoes, and loss of radar contact in various locations occurs on a frequent basis. Reporter says that the area between 325 and 335 between 20 and 30 mi out is also bad. This is an intermittent problem. Coverage appears good when the aircraft is close in to the airport. Maintenance response to problems seems good. Thinks the problem is in the antenna. Some people have said that the reason of poor coverage is the mountainous terrain.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CTLR CLAIMS THAT THE ASR-9 RADAR SYS LOSES RADAR TARGETS AND BEACON DATA.

Narrative: AT SALT LAKE TRACON WE USE THE ASR-9 SYS WITH A MODIFICATION TO THE BEACON SYS. I THINK A MODE S SYS WAS ADDED ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO. PROB IS WE ARE ALWAYS LOSING RADAR TARGETS AND BEACON DATA AT RANDOM LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT OUR AIRSPACE AT VARIOUS ALTS. THE CTLRS HAVE TO RELY ON POS RPTS AND ALT RPTS TO PROVIDE SEPARATION. I WOULD LIKE IT IF YOU WOULD CALL ME OR WRITE ME CONCERNING THIS INFO. THIS IS A NATIONWIDE PROB THAT NEEDS ATTN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO GET COPIES OF YOUR DATA BASE ON THIS SUBJECT. THANK YOU. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR CLAIMS THAT THE WORST AREA FOR NON RADAR IS MIL ACFT DEPARTING RWY 14. IN SOME CASES, THEY MAY NOT PICK UP THE ACFT UNTIL APPROX 30 MI AWAY. GHOSTING, COASTING, FALSE WX ECHOES, AND LOSS OF RADAR CONTACT IN VARIOUS LOCATIONS OCCURS ON A FREQUENT BASIS. RPTR SAYS THAT THE AREA BTWN 325 AND 335 BTWN 20 AND 30 MI OUT IS ALSO BAD. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROB. COVERAGE APPEARS GOOD WHEN THE ACFT IS CLOSE IN TO THE ARPT. MAINT RESPONSE TO PROBS SEEMS GOOD. THINKS THE PROB IS IN THE ANTENNA. SOME PEOPLE HAVE SAID THAT THE REASON OF POOR COVERAGE IS THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.

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.