No Aircraft
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 1.5
Distraction
ATC Issue All Types
ATC Equipment / Nav Facility / Buildings; Equipment / Tooling
1 NM north of DFW airport a radar track and data tag continually changes from a limited to full data block not associated with any airport traffic. The tag activates with a local code of 0716 and displays an altitude of 006 feet moving at zero knots. The problem is that the STARS equipment also identifies the track with a radar return. When the track shows up it blocks out the ability to read and verify altitude for IFR traffic continually departing from DFW in a north flow. This makes the workload even harder for the Departure position where the jets from DFW and DAL are departing towards the same area and climb rates and altitudes must be monitored to ensure standard separation. This tag could not be dropped; moved; suspended or identified. In a north flow configuration it poses a risk to cause a TCAS RA and it prevents the Departure Controller from effectively identifying the departing jets and safely working the position without the added distraction of constantly scanning this target in addition to the workload of the DR1 position in a north flow.The source of this target and code or equipment issue causing its existence should be investigated and identified so that it will not continue to occur.
Controller describes a flight data tag that appears 1 NM north of the airport that changes from limited to full data block; at 600 FT on a local discrete code.