AIM

4/3/14

4−1−12

Services Available to Pilots

4

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1

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18. Terminal Radar Services for VFR

Aircraft

a. Basic Radar Service:

1.

In addition to the use of radar for the control

of IFR aircraft, all commissioned radar facilities

provide the following basic radar services for VFR

aircraft:

(a)

Safety alerts.

(b)

Traffic advisories.

(c)

Limited radar vectoring (on a workload

permitting basis).

(d)

Sequencing at locations where proce-

dures have been established for this purpose and/or

when covered by a Letter of Agreement.

NOTE

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When the stage services were developed, two basic radar
services (traffic advisories and limited vectoring) were
identified as “Stage I.” This definition became unneces-
sary and the term “Stage I” was eliminated from use. The
term “Stage II” has been eliminated in conjunction with
the airspace reclassification, and sequencing services to
locations with local procedures and/or letters of agreement
to provide this service have been included in basic services
to VFR aircraft. These basic services will still be provided
by all terminal radar facilities whether they include
Class B, Class C, Class D or Class E airspace. “Stage III”
services have been replaced with “Class B” and “TRSA”
service where applicable.

2.

Vectoring service may be provided when

requested by the pilot or with pilot concurrence when

suggested by ATC.

3.

Pilots of arriving aircraft should contact

approach control on the publicized frequency and

give their position, altitude, aircraft call sign, type

aircraft, radar beacon code (if transponder equipped),

destination, and request traffic information.

4.

Approach control will issue wind and

runway, except when the pilot states “have numbers”

or this information is contained in the ATIS broadcast

and the pilot states that the current ATIS information

has been received. Traffic information is provided on

a workload permitting basis. Approach control will

specify the time or place at which the pilot is to

contact the tower on local control frequency for

further landing information. Radar service is

automatically terminated and the aircraft need not be

advised of termination when an arriving VFR aircraft

receiving radar services to a tower−controlled airport

where basic radar service is provided has landed, or

to all other airports, is instructed to change to tower

or advisory frequency.  (See FAA Order JO 7110.65,

Air Traffic Control, paragraph 5−1−13, Radar

Service Termination.)

5.

Sequencing for VFR aircraft is available at

certain terminal locations (see locations listed in the

Airport/Facility Directory). The purpose of the

service is to adjust the flow of arriving VFR and IFR

aircraft into the traffic pattern in a safe and orderly

manner and to provide radar traffic information to

departing VFR aircraft. Pilot participation is urged

but is not mandatory. Traffic information is provided

on a workload permitting basis. Standard radar

separation between VFR or between VFR and IFR

aircraft is not provided.

(a)

Pilots of arriving VFR aircraft should

initiate radio contact on the publicized frequency

with approach control when approximately 25 miles

from the airport at which sequencing services are

being provided. On initial contact by VFR aircraft,

approach control will assume that sequencing service

is requested. After radar contact is established, the

pilot may use pilot navigation to enter the traffic

pattern or, depending on traffic conditions, approach

control may provide the pilot with routings or vectors

necessary for proper sequencing with other partici-

pating VFR and IFR traffic en route to the airport.

When a flight is positioned behind a preceding

aircraft and the pilot reports having that aircraft in

sight, the pilot will be instructed to follow the

preceding aircraft. THE ATC INSTRUCTION TO

FOLLOW THE PRECEDING AIRCRAFT DOES

NOT AUTHORIZE THE PILOT TO

 

COMPLY

WITH ANY ATC CLEARANCE OR INSTRUC-

TION ISSUED TO THE PRECEDING AIRCRAFT.

If other “nonparticipating” or “local” aircraft are in

the traffic pattern, the tower will issue a landing

sequence. If an arriving aircraft does not want radar

service, the pilot should state “NEGATIVE RADAR

SERVICE” or make a similar comment, on initial

contact with approach control.

(b)

Pilots of departing VFR aircraft are

encouraged to request radar traffic information by

notifying ground control on initial contact with their

request and proposed direction of flight.