Narrative:

On jul/xb/99, the mia ARTS III failed twice in rapid succession. The system did not automatic-recover and it took approximately 8 mins to fully recover. The ARTS also failed twice on jul/xa/99, requiring a 'cold start' of the program to recover. The ARTS has failed many times in the past 30 days. During tonight's incident, we were utilizing expanded arrival and departure spacing because of the unreliability of the ARTS system. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter advised that a new system patch (content unknown) had been installed a week prior to the beginning of multiple ARTS III failures. Investigation determined that the problem was focused at TRACON's with dual radar sites. Mia approach control has 1 site at mia airport and another at fll. A condition must exist with an aircraft that is handed off to ZMA, climbing above 16000 ft (top of mia delegated airspace), but remains within the TRACON aurodrop boundary -- 55 mi, and then is again handed off back to any of the mia TRACON sectors. The technical center had to send someone down, since under FAA reorganization, the facility dss's had been eliminated. Mid aug/99, the patch was removed and has not yet been reinstalled.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MIA ATCT CTLR WORKING WHEN ARTS III FAILED TWICE. SYS RECOVERY TOOK 8 MINS. RPTR STATES ARTS FAILED ON THE PREVIOUS DAY, REQUIRING A 'COLD START' PROCESS.

Narrative: ON JUL/XB/99, THE MIA ARTS III FAILED TWICE IN RAPID SUCCESSION. THE SYS DID NOT AUTO-RECOVER AND IT TOOK APPROX 8 MINS TO FULLY RECOVER. THE ARTS ALSO FAILED TWICE ON JUL/XA/99, REQUIRING A 'COLD START' OF THE PROGRAM TO RECOVER. THE ARTS HAS FAILED MANY TIMES IN THE PAST 30 DAYS. DURING TONIGHT'S INCIDENT, WE WERE UTILIZING EXPANDED ARR AND DEP SPACING BECAUSE OF THE UNRELIABILITY OF THE ARTS SYS. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR ADVISED THAT A NEW SYS PATCH (CONTENT UNKNOWN) HAD BEEN INSTALLED A WK PRIOR TO THE BEGINNING OF MULTIPLE ARTS III FAILURES. INVESTIGATION DETERMINED THAT THE PROB WAS FOCUSED AT TRACON'S WITH DUAL RADAR SITES. MIA APCH CTL HAS 1 SITE AT MIA ARPT AND ANOTHER AT FLL. A CONDITION MUST EXIST WITH AN ACFT THAT IS HANDED OFF TO ZMA, CLBING ABOVE 16000 FT (TOP OF MIA DELEGATED AIRSPACE), BUT REMAINS WITHIN THE TRACON AURODROP BOUNDARY -- 55 MI, AND THEN IS AGAIN HANDED OFF BACK TO ANY OF THE MIA TRACON SECTORS. THE TECHNICAL CTR HAD TO SEND SOMEONE DOWN, SINCE UNDER FAA REORGANIZATION, THE FACILITY DSS'S HAD BEEN ELIMINATED. MID AUG/99, THE PATCH WAS REMOVED AND HAS NOT YET BEEN REINSTALLED.

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.