ATC equipment problem radar ASR-8 unreliable mode C altitude jump.

Attributes
ACN	267280
Time
Date	199403
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : tpa
State Reference	FL
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	other : unknown
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller military : 5 controller non radar : 3 controller radar : 11
ASRS Report	267280
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:

Tpa approach continues to be plagued with erroneous mode C readouts, coast tracks, limited radar coverage (due to the ASR-9 sail installed right next to the ASR-8) and paja activity over zph and X26 (south lal airport). Controllers are using lateral or 2000 ft separation in order to maintain positive separation. Management insists that, when 2 targets merge and the mode C jumps to an erroneous readout then jumps back, that mode C is still valid! Controller confidence is at a minimum and most are regretting the eaa's fly in at lal, 'sun-north-fun.' chances are likely that incidents will happen, not easily corrected by the controllers. With more controllers using 2000 ft or lateral separation, we're literally out of airspace, altitude, and ideas on how to run a smooth operation at this facility.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATC EQUIP PROB RADAR ASR-8 UNRELIABLE MODE C ALT JUMP.

Narrative: TPA APCH CONTINUES TO BE PLAGUED WITH ERRONEOUS MODE C READOUTS, COAST TRACKS, LIMITED RADAR COVERAGE (DUE TO THE ASR-9 SAIL INSTALLED RIGHT NEXT TO THE ASR-8) AND PAJA ACTIVITY OVER ZPH AND X26 (S LAL ARPT). CTLRS ARE USING LATERAL OR 2000 FT SEPARATION IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN POSITIVE SEPARATION. MGMNT INSISTS THAT, WHEN 2 TARGETS MERGE AND THE MODE C JUMPS TO AN ERRONEOUS READOUT THEN JUMPS BACK, THAT MODE C IS STILL VALID! CTLR CONFIDENCE IS AT A MINIMUM AND MOST ARE REGRETTING THE EAA'S FLY IN AT LAL, 'SUN-N-FUN.' CHANCES ARE LIKELY THAT INCIDENTS WILL HAPPEN, NOT EASILY CORRECTED BY THE CTLRS. WITH MORE CTLRS USING 2000 FT OR LATERAL SEPARATION, WE'RE LITERALLY OUT OF AIRSPACE, ALT, AND IDEAS ON HOW TO RUN A SMOOTH OP AT THIS FACILITY.

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.