Pilot/Controller Glossary

4/3/14

PCG R−2

RADAR BEACON−

(See RADAR.)

RADAR CLUTTER [ICAO]− The visual indication

on a radar display of unwanted signals.

RADAR CONTACT

−

a.

Used by ATC to inform an aircraft that it is

identified on the radar display and radar flight

following will be provided until radar identification

is terminated. Radar service may also be provided

within the limits of necessity and capability. When a

pilot is informed of “radar contact,” he/she

automatically discontinues reporting over compulso-

ry reporting points.

(See RADAR CONTACT LOST.)
(See RADAR FLIGHT FOLLOWING.)
(See RADAR SERVICE.)
(See RADAR SERVICE TERMINATED.)
(Refer to AIM.)

b.

The term used to inform the controller that the

aircraft is identified and approval is granted for the

aircraft to enter the receiving controllers airspace.

(See ICAO term RADAR CONTACT.)

RADAR CONTACT [ICAO]− The situation which

exists when the radar blip or radar position symbol of

a particular aircraft is seen and identified on a radar

display.

RADAR CONTACT LOST

− Used by ATC to inform

a pilot that radar data used to determine the aircraft’s

position is no longer being received, or is no longer

reliable and radar service is no longer being provided.

The loss may be attributed to several factors

including the aircraft merging with weather or ground

clutter, the aircraft operating below radar line of sight

coverage, the aircraft entering an area of poor radar

return, failure of the aircraft transponder, or failure of

the ground radar equipment.

(See CLUTTER.)
(See RADAR CONTACT.)

RADAR ENVIRONMENT− An area in which radar

service may be provided.

(See ADDITIONAL SERVICES.)
(See RADAR CONTACT.)
(See RADAR SERVICE.)
(See TRAFFIC ADVISORIES.)

RADAR FLIGHT FOLLOWING− The observation

of the progress of radar identified aircraft, whose

primary navigation is being provided by the pilot,

wherein the controller retains and correlates the

aircraft identity with the appropriate target or target

symbol displayed on the radar scope.

(See RADAR CONTACT.)
(See RADAR SERVICE.)
(Refer to AIM.)

RADAR IDENTIFICATION− The  process of

ascertaining that an observed radar target is the radar

return from a particular aircraft.

(See RADAR CONTACT.)
(See RADAR SERVICE.)
(See ICAO term RADAR IDENTIFICATION.)

RADAR IDENTIFICATION [ICAO]− The process

of correlating a particular radar blip or radar position

symbol with a specific aircraft.
RADAR IDENTIFIED AIRCRAFT− An aircraft, the

position of which has been correlated with an

observed target or symbol on the radar display.

(See RADAR CONTACT.)
(See RADAR CONTACT LOST.)

RADAR MONITORING−

(See RADAR SERVICE.)

RADAR NAVIGATIONAL GUIDANCE−

(See RADAR SERVICE.)

RADAR POINT OUT− An  action  taken  by  a

controller to transfer the radar identification of an

aircraft to another controller if the aircraft will or may

enter the airspace or protected airspace of another

controller and radio communications will not be

transferred.
RADAR REQUIRED− A term displayed on charts

and approach plates and included in FDC NOTAMs

to alert pilots that segments of either an instrument

approach procedure or a route are not navigable

because of either the absence or unusability of a

NAVAID. The pilot can expect to be provided radar

navigational guidance while transiting segments

labeled with this term.

(See RADAR ROUTE.)
(See RADAR SERVICE.)

RADAR ROUTE− A flight path or route over which

an aircraft is vectored. Navigational guidance and

altitude assignments are provided by ATC.

(See FLIGHT PATH.)
(See ROUTE.)

RADAR SEPARATION−

(See RADAR SERVICE.)