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New MSAW parameters recently installed at eri approach are very sensitive and trigger more often than appears necessary.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 403069 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199805 |
| Day | Fri |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : eri |
| State Reference | PA |
| Altitude | agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : approach |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Experience | controller military : 4 controller non radar : 21 controller radar : 26 controller supervisory : 2 |
| ASRS Report | 403069 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | atc equipment other atc equipment : unspecified other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : unable |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | ATC Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | other |
| Situations | |
| ATC Facility | other physical facility procedure or policy : unspecified |
| Navigational Aid | Unspecified |
Narrative:
FAA has installed new MSAW parameters in the past couple months. The new parameters have created a situation where virtually all IFR aircraft who execute a visual approach set off the low altitude alert alarm (or MSAW). The problem this has created is that of a 'cry wolf' syndrome. Aircraft are not in close proximity to obstructions or terrain, so controllers are not issuing the alerts. The alarms are so numerous that the nuisance is causing complacency amongst controllers. I have heard this is occurring at other airports in the united states.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: NEW MSAW PARAMETERS RECENTLY INSTALLED AT ERI APCH ARE VERY SENSITIVE AND TRIGGER MORE OFTEN THAN APPEARS NECESSARY.
Narrative: FAA HAS INSTALLED NEW MSAW PARAMETERS IN THE PAST COUPLE MONTHS. THE NEW PARAMETERS HAVE CREATED A SIT WHERE VIRTUALLY ALL IFR ACFT WHO EXECUTE A VISUAL APCH SET OFF THE LOW ALT ALERT ALARM (OR MSAW). THE PROB THIS HAS CREATED IS THAT OF A 'CRY WOLF' SYNDROME. ACFT ARE NOT IN CLOSE PROX TO OBSTRUCTIONS OR TERRAIN, SO CTLRS ARE NOT ISSUING THE ALERTS. THE ALARMS ARE SO NUMEROUS THAT THE NUISANCE IS CAUSING COMPLACENCY AMONGST CTLRS. I HAVE HEARD THIS IS OCCURRING AT OTHER ARPTS IN THE UNITED STATES.
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.