No Aircraft
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 14.5
Troubleshooting; Training / Qualification; Situational Awareness; Confusion
ATC Issue All Types
ATC Equipment / Nav Facility / Buildings
I was R-side training at Sector 32. We were in the middle of a push when the scope read 'Not Receiving Surveillance Data'. I immediately called the supervisor over to find out what that meant. He didn't know and called maintenance. Then the scope froze. We couldn't update or move data blocks. The scope and URET then completely went black; like 2 TV's had just shut off. No airplanes; no flight plans; nothing. We leaned over to sector 52 (who was also quite busy at the time) and asked him to quick-look sector 32. He quick-looked our sector and we got radar back but still couldn't manipulate the data blocks. I switched to the backup channel (not knowing if I should or not) and radar was restored but the D-side was completely dead. No entries from the D-side could be made. It was a good 8-10 minutes before URET was restored though. We brought an L-side into the situation to help read flight plans off the scope and update data blocks. I really don't know what happened to be able to supply a recommendation.
ZDC Controller describes losing surveillance data on a scope and not getting any information back for about 8 to 10 minutes. Controller had to use another controller's scope for this time.