Narrative:

We have been using ARTS 2E for over 1 yr. Current version is 25.4. When an aircraft departs any airport and the altitude portion of the transponder (mode C) doesn't work, the data block does not automatically acquire on the airplane's target. This is true even if the mode 3A portion of the transponder is working fine. If the controller notices, he has to take extra time to make a manual entry. If he does not notice, the airplane may never be tagged, or radar idented. All sorts of possibilities exist after that. I am told that all ARTS 2E facilities are experiencing this problem and the technical center has been working on it for 6+ months. This is a safety problem. I have seen it multiple times. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter asked for additional time to attempt to resolve problem at facility level. He understood that the problem was probably in the 'on-site' application adaptation. Reporter asked analyst if there were other ARTS iie facilities with on-site personnel that might be able to discuss csg's problem. Analyst provided 2 west coast facilities with similar equipment as referral. On a second callback conversation, the reporter advised that automation personnel were able to determine that there was an on-site adaptation error. The correction was being written and expected to be implemented within 2 weeks.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CSG CTLR ENCOUNTERS FACILITY ARTS IIE AUTOMATION PROB IN WHICH THE ARTS WILL NOT AUTOACQUIRE NON MODE C ACFT ON DEP.

Narrative: WE HAVE BEEN USING ARTS 2E FOR OVER 1 YR. CURRENT VERSION IS 25.4. WHEN AN ACFT DEPARTS ANY ARPT AND THE ALT PORTION OF THE XPONDER (MODE C) DOESN'T WORK, THE DATA BLOCK DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY ACQUIRE ON THE AIRPLANE'S TARGET. THIS IS TRUE EVEN IF THE MODE 3A PORTION OF THE XPONDER IS WORKING FINE. IF THE CTLR NOTICES, HE HAS TO TAKE EXTRA TIME TO MAKE A MANUAL ENTRY. IF HE DOES NOT NOTICE, THE AIRPLANE MAY NEVER BE TAGGED, OR RADAR IDENTED. ALL SORTS OF POSSIBILITIES EXIST AFTER THAT. I AM TOLD THAT ALL ARTS 2E FACILITIES ARE EXPERIENCING THIS PROB AND THE TECHNICAL CTR HAS BEEN WORKING ON IT FOR 6+ MONTHS. THIS IS A SAFETY PROB. I HAVE SEEN IT MULTIPLE TIMES. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR ASKED FOR ADDITIONAL TIME TO ATTEMPT TO RESOLVE PROB AT FACILITY LEVEL. HE UNDERSTOOD THAT THE PROB WAS PROBABLY IN THE 'ON-SITE' APPLICATION ADAPTATION. RPTR ASKED ANALYST IF THERE WERE OTHER ARTS IIE FACILITIES WITH ON-SITE PERSONNEL THAT MIGHT BE ABLE TO DISCUSS CSG'S PROB. ANALYST PROVIDED 2 WEST COAST FACILITIES WITH SIMILAR EQUIP AS REFERRAL. ON A SECOND CALLBACK CONVERSATION, THE RPTR ADVISED THAT AUTOMATION PERSONNEL WERE ABLE TO DETERMINE THAT THERE WAS AN ON-SITE ADAPTATION ERROR. THE CORRECTION WAS BEING WRITTEN AND EXPECTED TO BE IMPLEMENTED WITHIN 2 WKS.

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.