Pilot/Controller Glossary
4/3/14
PCG S−1
S
SAA−
(See SPECIAL ACTIVITY AIRSPACE.)
SAFETY ALERT− A safety alert issued by ATC to
aircraft under their control if ATC is aware the aircraft
is at an altitude which, in the controller’s judgment,
places the aircraft in unsafe proximity to terrain,
obstructions, or other aircraft. The controller may
discontinue the issuance of further alerts if the pilot
advises he/she is taking action to correct the situation
or has the other aircraft in sight.
a.
Terrain/Obstruction Alert− A safety alert issued
by ATC to aircraft under their control if ATC is aware
the aircraft is at an altitude which, in the controller’s
judgment, places the aircraft in unsafe proximity to
terrain/obstructions; e.g., “Low Altitude Alert, check
your altitude immediately.”
b.
Aircraft Conflict Alert− A safety alert issued by
ATC to aircraft under their control if ATC is aware of
an aircraft that is not under their control at an altitude
which, in the controller’s judgment, places both
aircraft in unsafe proximity to each other. With the
alert, ATC will offer the pilot an alternate course of
action when feasible; e.g., “Traffic Alert, advise you
turn right heading zero niner zero or climb to eight
thousand immediately.”
Note: The issuance of a safety alert is contingent
upon the capability of the controller to have an
awareness of an unsafe condition. The course of
action provided will be predicated on other traffic
under ATC control. Once the alert is issued, it is
solely the pilot’s prerogative to determine what
course of action, if any, he/she will take.
SAFETY LOGIC SYSTEM− A software enhance-
ment to ASDE−3, ASDE−X, and ASDE−3X, that
predicts the path of aircraft landing and/or departing,
and/or vehicular movements on runways. Visual and
aural alarms are activated when the safety logic
projects a potential collision. The Airport Movement
Area Safety System (AMASS) is a safety logic
system enhancement to the ASDE−3. The Safety
Logic System for ASDE−X and ASDE−3X is an
integral part of the software program.
SAFETY LOGIC SYSTEM ALERTS−
a.
ALERT− An actual situation involving two real
safety logic tracks (aircraft/aircraft, aircraft/vehicle,
or aircraft/other tangible object) that safety logic has
predicted will result in an imminent collision, based
upon the current set of Safety Logic parameters.
b.
FALSE ALERT−
1.
Alerts generated by one or more false
surface−radar targets that the system has interpreted
as real tracks and placed into safety logic.
2.
Alerts in which the safety logic software did
not perform correctly, based upon the design
specifications and the current set of Safety Logic
parameters.
3.
The alert is generated by surface radar targets
caused by moderate or greater precipitation.
c.
NUISANCE ALERT− An alert in which one or
more of the following is true:
1.
The alert is generated by a known situation
that is not considered an unsafe operation, such as
LAHSO or other approved operations.
2.
The alert is generated by inaccurate secon-
dary radar data received by the Safety Logic System.
3.
One or more of the aircraft involved in the
alert is not intending to use a runway (for example,
helicopter, pipeline patrol, non−Mode C overflight,
etc.).
d.
VALID NON−ALERT− A situation in which
the safety logic software correctly determines that an
alert is not required, based upon the design
specifications and the current set of Safety Logic
parameters.
e.
INVALID NON−ALERT− A situation in which
the safety logic software did not issue an alert when
an alert was required, based upon the design
specifications.
SAIL BACK− A maneuver during high wind
conditions (usually with power off) where float plane
movement is controlled by water rudders/opening
and closing cabin doors.
SAME DIRECTION AIRCRAFT− Aircraft are
operating in the same direction when:
a.
They are following the same track in the same
direction; or
b.
Their tracks are parallel and the aircraft are
flying in the same direction; or
c.
Their tracks intersect at an angle of less than 45
degrees.