surveillance radar

surveillance radar

[sər′vā·ləns ‚rā‚där]

(navigation)

Ground radar used for traffic-control purposes in the approach and landing zone; it is used to assist controllers in converting random arrivals to regular landings and in positioning such aircraft so that they may make low approaches by the use of a fixed-beam, low-approach system or by a precision radar low-approach system.

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

surveillance radar

A radar primarily meant to scan 360° in azimuth and provide information on the range and the azimuth of the aircraft in its range. Information on the target's height may or may not be available. However, modern surveillance radars do provide both azimuth and elevation data, and in conjunction with secondary surveillance radar (SSR), it is possible to establish identity and provide separation, navigational assistance, storm warning, and even vectoring of the aircraft onto the final approach. Surveillance radars are divided into two general categories: airport surveillance radar (ASR) and air route surveillance radar (ARSR). Long-range air defense surveillance radars are akin to air route surveillance radars.

An Illustrated Dictionary of Aviation Copyright © 2005 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved