Pilot/Controller Glossary

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 using an approved ATC surveillance
source on an air traffic controller"s display and that
radar flight following will be provided until radar
service 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 compulsory reporting points.
(See ATC SURVEILLANCE SOURCE.)
(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 the surveillance 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"s equipment, or
failure of the surveillance 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.)

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.)

RADAR SERVICE- A term which encompasses one
or more of the following services based on the use of