Cmh flight data controller concern with non displayable full data tag.

Attributes
ACN	539150
Time
Date	200202
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : ape.vortac
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl single value : 10000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : cmh.tracon
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : flight data
Qualification	controller : radar pilot : instrument
Experience	controller radar : 2 controller time certified in position1 : 8 flight time total : 1000
ASRS Report	539150
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment : tcas other controllera other controllerb
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	faa : investigated
Supplementary
Problem Areas	FAA Navigational Facility ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Situations
ATC Facility	computer equipment : cmh.tracon procedure or policy : cmh.tracon

Narrative:

I'm working data position, north radar (nr) says to south radar (sr) 'did you drop the tag of flight check?' south radar responds 'no.' when we compared south radar to north radar, the full data block (call sign, altitude, etc) were still displayed. The aircraft had been handed off to ZID. On the north radar display there was no full data block, not even a limited data block! (Ie, no '*' symbol, no altitude, no nothing...except a target). This is less data than we see on high altitude overflts (at least they have a '*' symbol wherein one can slew to it and bring up a limited data block). North radar could not even slew to it and bring up the limited data block. This was reported to the supervisor, but I didn't see the supervisor take any action beyond acknowledging that. Shortly thereafter, north radar selected a different range setting and the full data block appeared. Going back to the original range setting and the data block vanished again (only a target remained without a limited data block). I've seen this happen before. This is not good, as we depend on the 'quick look' function. (Yes, quick look was on and selected...it was just this 1 target.)

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CMH FLT DATA CTLR CONCERN WITH NON DISPLAYABLE FULL DATA TAG.

Narrative: I'M WORKING DATA POS, N RADAR (NR) SAYS TO S RADAR (SR) 'DID YOU DROP THE TAG OF FLT CHK?' S RADAR RESPONDS 'NO.' WHEN WE COMPARED S RADAR TO N RADAR, THE FULL DATA BLOCK (CALL SIGN, ALT, ETC) WERE STILL DISPLAYED. THE ACFT HAD BEEN HANDED OFF TO ZID. ON THE N RADAR DISPLAY THERE WAS NO FULL DATA BLOCK, NOT EVEN A LIMITED DATA BLOCK! (IE, NO '*' SYMBOL, NO ALT, NO NOTHING...EXCEPT A TARGET). THIS IS LESS DATA THAN WE SEE ON HIGH ALT OVERFLTS (AT LEAST THEY HAVE A '*' SYMBOL WHEREIN ONE CAN SLEW TO IT AND BRING UP A LIMITED DATA BLOCK). N RADAR COULD NOT EVEN SLEW TO IT AND BRING UP THE LIMITED DATA BLOCK. THIS WAS RPTED TO THE SUPVR, BUT I DIDN'T SEE THE SUPVR TAKE ANY ACTION BEYOND ACKNOWLEDGING THAT. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, N RADAR SELECTED A DIFFERENT RANGE SETTING AND THE FULL DATA BLOCK APPEARED. GOING BACK TO THE ORIGINAL RANGE SETTING AND THE DATA BLOCK VANISHED AGAIN (ONLY A TARGET REMAINED WITHOUT A LIMITED DATA BLOCK). I'VE SEEN THIS HAPPEN BEFORE. THIS IS NOT GOOD, AS WE DEPEND ON THE 'QUICK LOOK' FUNCTION. (YES, QUICK LOOK WAS ON AND SELECTED...IT WAS JUST THIS 1 TARGET.)

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.