Narrative:

First center sector receiving aircraft from raleigh approach control (rdu). LOA between ZDC and rdu requires 5 mi separation between successive departures. Approximately 20 I west of rdu VORTAC; beacon codes disappear. Aircraft disappear from radar 6-24 seconds. When target is reacquired; aircraft will jump 4-8 mi from last known position. Advised supervisor of situation and he asked if in-trail restrs would help. Agreed with suggestion. Contacted tmu and initiated. Operations manager came to area to observe. Watched 1 aircraft depart. Aircraft did disappear from radar display for a short while. Operations manager decided not enough of a problem to warrant in trail restrs and canceled them. With aircraft handed off with standard separation only; very difficult to maintain without accurate radar display.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZDC CTLR EXPRESSED CONCERN REGARDING CENTER RADAR'S SPACING PRESENTATION OF RDU DEPS SPACED VIA LOA REQUIREMENTS.

Narrative: FIRST CTR SECTOR RECEIVING ACFT FROM RALEIGH APCH CTL (RDU). LOA BTWN ZDC AND RDU REQUIRES 5 MI SEPARATION BTWN SUCCESSIVE DEPS. APPROX 20 I W OF RDU VORTAC; BEACON CODES DISAPPEAR. ACFT DISAPPEAR FROM RADAR 6-24 SECONDS. WHEN TARGET IS REACQUIRED; ACFT WILL JUMP 4-8 MI FROM LAST KNOWN POS. ADVISED SUPVR OF SITUATION AND HE ASKED IF IN-TRAIL RESTRS WOULD HELP. AGREED WITH SUGGESTION. CONTACTED TMU AND INITIATED. OPS MGR CAME TO AREA TO OBSERVE. WATCHED 1 ACFT DEPART. ACFT DID DISAPPEAR FROM RADAR DISPLAY FOR A SHORT WHILE. OPS MGR DECIDED NOT ENOUGH OF A PROB TO WARRANT IN TRAIL RESTRS AND CANCELED THEM. WITH ACFT HANDED OFF WITH STANDARD SEPARATION ONLY; VERY DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN WITHOUT ACCURATE RADAR DISPLAY.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.