Pilot/Controller Glossary

4/3/14

PCG R−1

R

RAA−

(See REMOTE AIRPORT ADVISORY.)

RADAR− A device which, by measuring the time

interval between transmission and reception of radio

pulses and correlating the angular orientation of the

radiated antenna beam or beams in azimuth and/or

elevation, provides information on range, azimuth,

and/or elevation of objects in the path of the

transmitted pulses.

a.

Primary Radar− A radar system in which a

minute portion of a radio pulse transmitted from a site

is reflected by an object and then received back at that

site for processing and display at an air traffic control

facility.

b.

Secondary Radar/Radar Beacon (ATCRBS)− A

radar system in which the object to be detected is

fitted with cooperative equipment in the form of a

radio receiver/transmitter (transponder). Radar

pulses transmitted from the searching transmitter/re-

ceiver (interrogator) site are received in the

cooperative equipment and used to trigger a

distinctive transmission from the transponder. This

reply transmission, rather than a reflected signal, is

then received back at the transmitter/receiver site for

processing and display at an air traffic control facility.

(See INTERROGATOR.)
(See TRANSPONDER.)
(See ICAO term RADAR.)
(Refer to AIM.)

RADAR [ICAO]− A radio detection device which

provides information on range, azimuth and/or

elevation of objects.

a.

Primary Radar− Radar system which uses

reflected radio signals.

b.

Secondary Radar− Radar system wherein a

radio signal transmitted from a radar station initiates

the transmission of a radio signal from another

station.

RADAR ADVISORY− The provision of advice and

information based on radar observations.

(See ADVISORY SERVICE.)

RADAR ALTIMETER−

(See RADIO ALTIMETER.)

RADAR APPROACH− An instrument approach

procedure which utilizes Precision Approach Radar

(PAR) or Airport Surveillance Radar (ASR).

(See AIRPORT SURVEILLANCE RADAR.)
(See INSTRUMENT APPROACH

PROCEDURE.)

(See PRECISION APPROACH RADAR.)
(See SURVEILLANCE APPROACH.)
(See ICAO term RADAR APPROACH.)
(Refer to AIM.)

RADAR APPROACH [ICAO]− An approach,

executed by an aircraft, under the direction of a radar

controller.
RADAR APPROACH CONTROL FACILITY− A

terminal ATC facility that uses radar and nonradar

capabilities to provide approach control services to

aircraft arriving, departing, or transiting airspace

controlled by the facility.

(See APPROACH CONTROL SERVICE.)

a.

Provides radar ATC services to aircraft

operating in the vicinity of one or more civil and/or

military airports in a terminal area. The facility may

provide services of a ground controlled approach

(GCA); i.e., ASR and PAR approaches. A radar

approach control facility may be operated by FAA,

USAF, US Army, USN, USMC, or jointly by FAA

and a military service. Specific facility nomencla-

tures are used for administrative purposes only and

are related to the physical location of the facility and

the operating service generally as follows:

1.

Army Radar Approach Control (ARAC)

(Army).

2.

Radar Air Traffic Control Facility (RATCF)

(Navy/FAA).

3.

Radar Approach Control (RAPCON) (Air

Force/FAA).

4.

Terminal Radar Approach Control

(TRACON) (FAA).

5.

Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) (FAA).

(Only those towers delegated approach control

authority.)
RADAR ARRIVAL− An aircraft arriving at an

airport served by a radar facility and in radar contact

with the facility.

(See NONRADAR.)