East radar system loss of beacon tracks. ARTS tracks in coast with no altitude data displayed.

Attributes
ACN	349352
Time
Date	199610
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dfw
State Reference	TX
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 8
ASRS Report	349352
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	oversight : supervisor
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Navigational Facility
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

I was working feeder east at dfw TRACON during arrival push. Using east ASR-9 all tracks coasted (no beacon tracking/altitude data, display 'CST') intermittently 4 times in a row. I selected sachse ASR-9 and all tracks coasted intermittently at least 2 times. After consulting with area supervisor (who consulted with technician) I selected west ASR-9 and coasting problems stopped. This was very distracting during busy traffic with approximately 25-30 aircraft in my airspace. Altitude data used in prearranged coordination with other sectors is not available when track is coasting. Aircraft tracks in coast status may appear to be outside altitude filter limits set by other control position when in fact they are not.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: EAST RADAR SYS LOSS OF BEACON TRACKS. ARTS TRACKS IN COAST WITH NO ALT DATA DISPLAYED.

Narrative: I WAS WORKING FEEDER EAST AT DFW TRACON DURING ARR PUSH. USING EAST ASR-9 ALL TRACKS COASTED (NO BEACON TRACKING/ALT DATA, DISPLAY 'CST') INTERMITTENTLY 4 TIMES IN A ROW. I SELECTED SACHSE ASR-9 AND ALL TRACKS COASTED INTERMITTENTLY AT LEAST 2 TIMES. AFTER CONSULTING WITH AREA SUPVR (WHO CONSULTED WITH TECHNICIAN) I SELECTED WEST ASR-9 AND COASTING PROBS STOPPED. THIS WAS VERY DISTRACTING DURING BUSY TFC WITH APPROX 25-30 ACFT IN MY AIRSPACE. ALT DATA USED IN PREARRANGED COORD WITH OTHER SECTORS IS NOT AVAILABLE WHEN TRACK IS COASTING. ACFT TRACKS IN COAST STATUS MAY APPEAR TO BE OUTSIDE ALT FILTER LIMITS SET BY OTHER CTL POS WHEN IN FACT THEY ARE NOT.

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.