Dab TRACON controller expressed frustration with radar coverage.

Attributes
ACN	593680
Time
Date	200309
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mlb.airport
State Reference	FL
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dab.tracon
Make Model Name	Duchess 76
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dab.tracon
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
ASRS Report	593680
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Navigational Facility FAA
Primary Problem	Navigational Facility
Situations
ATC Facility	radar equipment : dab.tracon

Narrative:

I lost radar with aircraft X for 7 mins, west of mlb. I lost radar with aircraft X again from 2 NM west of mlb to 13 NM west. Aircraft Y 46 mi north of mlb to 45 mi north of mlb. Supplemental information from acn 593681: the radar which is in service near melbourne, fl, is unacceptable. I lost track of aircraft X for 11 mi west of mlb, then reacquired. I lost track of aircraft Y twice -- once 10 mi southwest of mlb for 2 mi, also 3 mi southwest mlb for 8 mi. This radar, and the reliance upon it, is dangerous.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DAB TRACON CTLR EXPRESSED FRUSTRATION WITH RADAR COVERAGE.

Narrative: I LOST RADAR WITH ACFT X FOR 7 MINS, W OF MLB. I LOST RADAR WITH ACFT X AGAIN FROM 2 NM W OF MLB TO 13 NM WEST. ACFT Y 46 MI N OF MLB TO 45 MI N OF MLB. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 593681: THE RADAR WHICH IS IN SVC NEAR MELBOURNE, FL, IS UNACCEPTABLE. I LOST TRACK OF ACFT X FOR 11 MI W OF MLB, THEN REACQUIRED. I LOST TRACK OF ACFT Y TWICE -- ONCE 10 MI SW OF MLB FOR 2 MI, ALSO 3 MI SW MLB FOR 8 MI. THIS RADAR, AND THE RELIANCE UPON IT, IS DANGEROUS.

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.