Narrative:

Azo's ASR8 shows false primary targets. Our af technicians have confirmed this and say 'it is inherent with the system.' this proposes two safety problems. 1) controllers become complacent to the 'so called' false targets and do not issue them as traffic. What if the target was a real primary? 2) controllers issue the false target traffic to pilots. The targets pop up at any time therefore traffic is given in close proximity of an aircraft which might intimidate a pilot and cause them to panic or distract them from more important priorities like flying their aircraft.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AZO APCH CTLR CONCERNED WITH FALSE PRIMARY TARGETS CAUSING PLT CTLR DISTRACTIONS FOR TFC ADVISORIES FOR ACFT THAT ARE NOT THERE.

Narrative: AZO'S ASR8 SHOWS FALSE PRIMARY TARGETS. OUR AF TECHNICIANS HAVE CONFIRMED THIS AND SAY 'IT IS INHERENT WITH THE SYS.' THIS PROPOSES TWO SAFETY PROBS. 1) CTLRS BECOME COMPLACENT TO THE 'SO CALLED' FALSE TARGETS AND DO NOT ISSUE THEM AS TFC. WHAT IF THE TARGET WAS A REAL PRIMARY? 2) CTLRS ISSUE THE FALSE TARGET TFC TO PLTS. THE TARGETS POP UP AT ANY TIME THEREFORE TFC IS GIVEN IN CLOSE PROXIMITY OF AN ACFT WHICH MIGHT INTIMIDATE A PLT AND CAUSE THEM TO PANIC OR DISTRACT THEM FROM MORE IMPORTANT PRIORITIES LIKE FLYING THEIR ACFT.

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.