Clt controllers concerned with frequent ARTS 'scatter' over a 2 day period.

Attributes
ACN	470016
Time
Date	200004
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : clt.tracon
State Reference	NC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 7000 msl bound upper : 9000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : clt.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-700
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change
Route In Use	approach : visual arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : clt.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change
Route In Use	arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller time certified in position1 : 10
ASRS Report	470016
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 4
ASRS Report	470199
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other controllerb
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	faa : investigated
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Facility
Primary Problem	ATC Facility
Situations
ATC Facility	computer equipment : clt.tracon

Narrative:

At the time of this occurrence, 6 aircraft were involved on the frequency when the ARTS scattered for no apparent reason. This has been happening now consistently for the last 2 days. Supplemental information from acn 470199: ARTS scatter. 6 aircraft in airspace -- lost all radar data controled aircraft by primary radar only. This occurred 10 hours after airways facilities assured problem was fixed. Last night there were 17 ARTS scatters. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter advised problem corrected within 30 days of incidents by on-site automation specialist. Reporter is not aware of any 'scatter' since the program fix. Exact fix unknown by reporter.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CLT CTLRS CONCERNED WITH FREQUENT ARTS 'SCATTER' OVER A 2 DAY PERIOD.

Narrative: AT THE TIME OF THIS OCCURRENCE, 6 ACFT WERE INVOLVED ON THE FREQ WHEN THE ARTS SCATTERED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING NOW CONSISTENTLY FOR THE LAST 2 DAYS. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 470199: ARTS SCATTER. 6 ACFT IN AIRSPACE -- LOST ALL RADAR DATA CTLED ACFT BY PRIMARY RADAR ONLY. THIS OCCURRED 10 HRS AFTER AIRWAYS FACILITIES ASSURED PROB WAS FIXED. LAST NIGHT THERE WERE 17 ARTS SCATTERS. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR ADVISED PROB CORRECTED WITHIN 30 DAYS OF INCIDENTS BY ON-SITE AUTOMATION SPECIALIST. RPTR IS NOT AWARE OF ANY 'SCATTER' SINCE THE PROGRAM FIX. EXACT FIX UNKNOWN BY RPTR.

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.