ARTS data tag display of B737-500 might be interpreted as VFR aircraft.

Attributes
ACN	282556
Time
Date	199409
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : bdl
State Reference	CT
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 8
ASRS Report	282556
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Navigational Facility
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
Navigational Aid	Unspecified

Narrative:

The new B737-500 series is being displayed on radar ARTS tags as a B73V. The V designation in the H side of a ARTS tag signifies a VFR aircraft. This new designation could cause separation problems if a controller quick scans his tags mistaking the B73V for a VFR aircraft.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ARTS DATA TAG DISPLAY OF B737-500 MIGHT BE INTERPRETED AS VFR ACFT.

Narrative: THE NEW B737-500 SERIES IS BEING DISPLAYED ON RADAR ARTS TAGS AS A B73V. THE V DESIGNATION IN THE H SIDE OF A ARTS TAG SIGNIFIES A VFR ACFT. THIS NEW DESIGNATION COULD CAUSE SEPARATION PROBS IF A CTLR QUICK SCANS HIS TAGS MISTAKING THE B73V FOR A VFR ACFT.

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.