Flo TRACON controller concerned with the removal of an ARTS iia patch.

Attributes
ACN	445991
Time
Date	199908
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : flo.tracon
State Reference	SC
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach controller : local
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller limited radar : 5 controller radar : 4 controller time certified in position1 : 4
ASRS Report	445991
Events
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	faa : investigated Other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	FAA Maintenance Human Performance Airspace Structure ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Facility
Situations
ATC Facility	computer equipment : flo.tracon procedure or policy : flo.tracon

Narrative:

We have ARTS iia at flo. They recently came and 'upgraded' our ARTS. However, they discovered that we had an ARTS patch that is not allowed. This patch allowed us to type VFR flight following into the NAS from the keyboard at the scope. They said it had crashed several ARTS programs. We have been using it at flo for at least 1 yr and haven't had any problems. Now if VFR's want flight following in 'the system,' I have to type a VFR flight plan into the fdio. More than likely, I will not be typing VFR's into the system because it takes too much of my time. Whereas, the ARTS patch was very easy and I did it all the time.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLO TRACON CTLR CONCERNED WITH THE REMOVAL OF AN ARTS IIA PATCH.

Narrative: WE HAVE ARTS IIA AT FLO. THEY RECENTLY CAME AND 'UPGRADED' OUR ARTS. HOWEVER, THEY DISCOVERED THAT WE HAD AN ARTS PATCH THAT IS NOT ALLOWED. THIS PATCH ALLOWED US TO TYPE VFR FLT FOLLOWING INTO THE NAS FROM THE KEYBOARD AT THE SCOPE. THEY SAID IT HAD CRASHED SEVERAL ARTS PROGRAMS. WE HAVE BEEN USING IT AT FLO FOR AT LEAST 1 YR AND HAVEN'T HAD ANY PROBS. NOW IF VFR'S WANT FLT FOLLOWING IN 'THE SYS,' I HAVE TO TYPE A VFR FLT PLAN INTO THE FDIO. MORE THAN LIKELY, I WILL NOT BE TYPING VFR'S INTO THE SYS BECAUSE IT TAKES TOO MUCH OF MY TIME. WHEREAS, THE ARTS PATCH WAS VERY EASY AND I DID IT ALL THE TIME.

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.