No Aircraft
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert
ATC Equipment / Nav Facility / Buildings; Human Factors; Procedure
Earlier this week I was developing a refresher briefing item regarding the proper separation from adjacent airspace boundaries less than 40 NM from the antenna (1.5 miles) and more than 40 NM from the antenna (2.5 miles). This topic had come up because of the improper application of this type of separation during a skills check conducted by one of my FLMs several days ago. We had discovered that some employees were misunderstanding the paragraph (7110.65 para. 5-5-4-a-3) that allowed 3 miles separation between aircraft up to 60 NM from the RADAR antenna when using single site ASR-9 with Mode S. Apparently the thinking was that because we could use 'reduced' separation between aircraft; then we could also use 'reduced' 1.5 NM separation from the airspace boundary out to 60 NM when using single site ASR-9 with Mode S. An FLM approached me and advised me that while researching the topic in the previous paragraph he discovered that several of our STARS video maps incorrectly displayed 3 NM radius rings around obstructions outside of 40 NM when they should have been 5 NM radius rings instead (in accordance with 7110.65 para 5-5-9 SEPARATION FROM OBSTRUCTIONS). I reviewed the issue and concur with the FLM; it appears that we have been operating with incorrect MVA and video maps. Recommendation: 1. we already have an overlay STARS video map that displays a 5 NM radius around every obstruction more than 40 NM from the ASR-9 antenna. 2. We immediately advised all employees to display map at all times and use the 5 NM radius rings for separation from obstructions. 3. We have added a carryover item to our facility log to remind operational employees of the mandatory use of map. 4. We have developed a change NOTICE to our facility SOPs to require the use of map until our video maps and MVA charts can be corrected and have placed the change NOTICE in CEDAR as a mandatory briefing item. 5. We will promptly begin the process of correcting our erroneous video maps and MVA charts. 6. The local NATCA FACREP has been briefed on this issue and has participated in the development of corrective procedures/briefing items.
TRACON Manager reported a recent discovery regarding the incorrect clearance depictions on facility video maps. The reporter listed a number of actions being taken to correct the deficiency.