P31 ARTS iie radar tracking problem.

Attributes
ACN	582861
Time
Date	200305
Day	Tue
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : p31.tracon
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl single value : 1700
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : p31.tracon
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Mentor (T-34)
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing : missed approach
Route In Use	approach : traffic pattern approach other arrival : on vectors departure : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : handoff position controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller military : 8 controller radar : 23 controller supervisory : 5 controller time certified in position1 : 4 controller time certified in position2 : 0
ASRS Report	582861
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : asr ii e radar other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	faa : investigated
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Navigational Facility FAA Maintenance Human Performance
Primary Problem	Maintenance Human Performance
Situations
ATC Facility	radar equipment : p31.tracon
Airspace Structure	class c : ndz.c

Narrative:

I was working several T34T aircraft in the radar traffic pattern to navy whiting south runway 32 (ndz). Each time I turned the aircraft from downwind to base for PAR approachs the ARTS iie tag and beacon radar return disappeared until the aircraft turned out crosswind. This is a constant and a problem that continues to occur. In spite of this, either there is nothing that can be, or is being done. Considering this unsafe, during this particular work session, I refused to provide any additional practice approachs citing aviation safety. This is a disservice to the users (navy) but not apparently enough for a resolution to the problem. Local airways facility personnel insist the radar is working as designed. So why does this happen?

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: P31 ARTS IIE RADAR TRACKING PROB.

Narrative: I WAS WORKING SEVERAL T34T ACFT IN THE RADAR TFC PATTERN TO NAVY WHITING S RWY 32 (NDZ). EACH TIME I TURNED THE ACFT FROM DOWNWIND TO BASE FOR PAR APCHS THE ARTS IIE TAG AND BEACON RADAR RETURN DISAPPEARED UNTIL THE ACFT TURNED OUT XWIND. THIS IS A CONSTANT AND A PROB THAT CONTINUES TO OCCUR. IN SPITE OF THIS, EITHER THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE, OR IS BEING DONE. CONSIDERING THIS UNSAFE, DURING THIS PARTICULAR WORK SESSION, I REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL PRACTICE APCHS CITING AVIATION SAFETY. THIS IS A DISSERVICE TO THE USERS (NAVY) BUT NOT APPARENTLY ENOUGH FOR A RESOLUTION TO THE PROB. LCL AIRWAYS FACILITY PERSONNEL INSIST THE RADAR IS WORKING AS DESIGNED. SO WHY DOES THIS HAPPEN?

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.