ZSU controller concerned with 3 hour, facility critical power failure.

Attributes
ACN	502487
Time
Date	200102
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zsu.artcc
State Reference	PR
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : flight data
Qualification	controller : radar
ASRS Report	502487
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Facility
Primary Problem	ATC Facility
Situations
ATC Facility	communication equipment : zsu.artcc computer equipment : zsu.artcc other physical facility radar equipment : zsu.artcc

Narrative:

At about XP12, I was working the flight data position, and in the process of changing the route of flight on an aircraft that was ready for departure. At this time, the flight data input/output device went 'off.' I noticed that every piece of equipment at this position also experienced loss of power. These are considered critical components, and they are the flight data input/output (also known as fdio, the information display system 4 -- also known as ids 4, the automatic WX information system) also used to retrieve flight plans. I also noticed that on both approach and center side, all the frequencys as well as the radar displays 'went out.' we had experienced a total critical power outage. This situation lasted (on and off, mostly off) for nearly 3 hours. Maybe even more! Needless to say, in my opinion, the safety of the flying public was seriously compromised! Thank god there is a big sky out there, for there were no accident(south) to report.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZSU CTLR CONCERNED WITH 3 HR, FACILITY CRITICAL PWR FAILURE.

Narrative: AT ABOUT XP12, I WAS WORKING THE FLT DATA POS, AND IN THE PROCESS OF CHANGING THE RTE OF FLT ON AN ACFT THAT WAS READY FOR DEP. AT THIS TIME, THE FLT DATA INPUT/OUTPUT DEVICE WENT 'OFF.' I NOTICED THAT EVERY PIECE OF EQUIP AT THIS POS ALSO EXPERIENCED LOSS OF PWR. THESE ARE CONSIDERED CRITICAL COMPONENTS, AND THEY ARE THE FLT DATA INPUT/OUTPUT (ALSO KNOWN AS FDIO, THE INFO DISPLAY SYS 4 -- ALSO KNOWN AS IDS 4, THE AUTOMATIC WX INFO SYS) ALSO USED TO RETRIEVE FLT PLANS. I ALSO NOTICED THAT ON BOTH APCH AND CTR SIDE, ALL THE FREQS AS WELL AS THE RADAR DISPLAYS 'WENT OUT.' WE HAD EXPERIENCED A TOTAL CRITICAL PWR OUTAGE. THIS SIT LASTED (ON AND OFF, MOSTLY OFF) FOR NEARLY 3 HRS. MAYBE EVEN MORE! NEEDLESS TO SAY, IN MY OPINION, THE SAFETY OF THE FLYING PUBLIC WAS SERIOUSLY COMPROMISED! THANK GOD THERE IS A BIG SKY OUT THERE, FOR THERE WERE NO ACCIDENT(S) TO RPT.

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.