Radar Surveillance Terminology

  • Airspace Non-cooperative Surveillance Radar (ANSR) is an initiative within the Air Traffic Organization to research, develop and modernize aging non-cooperative radars within the National Airspace System, or NAS.

  • Cooperative Radars (Secondary radar) are Beacon Interrogators that identify and track an aircraft using interrogations and broadcasts emitted from on-board aircraft transponders. Beacon Interrogators include: ATCBI-5, Mode S, ATCBI-6, Monopulse Secondary Surveillance Radars. Other cooperative surveillance systems include: Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast and Multilateration (ASDE-X/ASSC, WAM).

  • Divestiture is a high-level term used to define when the FAA no longer bears the full cost of ownership of radar equipment.

  • Discontinuance (per FAAO 6000.15) means the termination or discontinued use of a facility whose activity level meets the criteria for removal from service in the National Airspace System (NAS). The justification for the facility may no longer exist or has changed significantly, causing the facility to become a candidate for decommissioning.

  • Decommission (per FAAO 6000.15) means the permanent removal of a discontinued facility, system, subsystem, or equipment from the NAS without replacing its functions, capabilities, or services with a facility of the same Facilities, Service, and Equipment Profile type.

  • Disposition (per FAAO 4600.27, Appendix B, FAA Reutilization and Disposition Process and Procedures Guide) means discarding or relinquishing control over excess or surplus assets in accordance with appropriate Government regulations through transfer, donation, sale, recycling, destruction or another final disposal action.

  • Disposal (per FAAO 4600.27) is the act of rendering surplus personal property assets unfit for reuse, such as recycling or destruction.

  • En Route Domain is the airspace domain that includes aircraft flying between 18,000 and 60,000 Mean Sea Level in Class A airspace.

  • Line Replaceable Unit (LRU), a modular component designed to be quickly replaced at an operating location.

  • Locations
    • Sensor is the surveillance equipment (located at a site) which produces radar data.
    • Site is a general term used to define the physical location of the radar and/or ancillary equipment and buildings or shelters.
    • Facility is the operational air traffic locations that radars provide surveillance data to, e.g. Air Route Traffic Control Center, Terminal Radar Approach Control Facility, or Airport Traffic Control Tower.
       
  • Long Range Radars are surveillance systems with 200-250 NM range used for terminal and en route operations that include non-cooperative and/or cooperative capability.
     
  • Non-cooperative Radar (Primary radar) identifies and tracks an aircraft's position independently, without the use of on-board avionics, using radio signal reflections.  No cooperation is required from the aircraft. Non-cooperative radars include: Long Range (ARSR-4, CARSR), Short Range (ASR-8/9/11), and Surface (ASDE-X/ASSC SMR).
     
  • Mode S Beacon Replacement System (MSBRS) updates outdated and unsustainable components of the current Mode Select, or Mode S, radar system. MSBRS program goals include a new design that integrates contemporary surveillance interfaces, safeguards against cyber security risks, and includes necessary modifications to maintain the system's support and longevity.
     
  • Property
    • Personal Property (the equipment) is any asset, other than land and fixed-in-place buildings
    • Real Property (the land and building) is any interest in land, together with the improvements, structures, and fixtures located thereon (including prefabricated movable structures), and appurtenances thereto, under the control of any Federal agency. In other words, the term "real" should be associated with realty, land, or something attached to the land.
       
  • Radar Models
    • Airport Surveillance Radar Model 8 (ASR-8) is a terminal radar initially deployed in 1975. The ASR-8 system is a non-cooperative (primary) surveillance radar that provides aircraft position and weather information to automation systems for air traffic controllers in terminal airspace.
    • Airport Surveillance Radar Model 9 (ASR-9) is a terminal radar initially deployed in 1985. The ASR-9 is a non-cooperative (primary) surveillance radar system that provides aircraft position and weather information to automation systems for air traffic controllers in terminal airspace.
    • The Airport Surveillance Radar Model 11 (ASR-11) is a terminal radar initially deployed in 2003. The ASR-11 provides non-cooperative (primary) and cooperative (primary) surveillance of aircraft position and weather information to air traffic controllers in terminal and enroute airspaces.
    • Mode Select (Mode S) is a cooperative (secondary) radar initially deployed in 1989. The Mode S identifies and tracks transponder-equipped aircraft in en-route and terminal airspaces. The Mode S also provides aircraft position and altitude information, monopulse detection, and has the capability to operate as an Air Traffic Control Beacon Interrogator (ATCBI).
    • ATCBI-5 is a cooperative (secondary) radar initially deployed in 1973. The ATCBI-5 provides aircraft identification, altitude, airspeed, and direction to air traffic controllers in terminal airspace.
    • ATCBI-6 is a cooperative (secondary) radar deployed in 2002. The ATCBI-6 provides aircraft identification, altitude, airspeed, and direction to air traffic controllers in terminal airspace.
    • Mode 5 Mode 5 is a Department of Defense cooperative (secondary) radar with Interrogator Friend or Foe (IFF) capability located at border sites. Mode 5 replaces the previous cooperative (primary) Mode 4 model. FAA partners with DoD to procure and maintain Mode 5 radars.

  • Short Range Radars are surveillance systems with 60 nautical mile (NM) range used for terminal and en route operations that includes non-cooperative and/or cooperative systems.

  • Sub-System Replacement for radar systems include components shared across different radar models such as antennas, transmitters, or receiver/processors.

  • Surface Domain is the airspace domain that includes detecting aircraft and ground vehicles on the airports surface movement area (i.e., ramp), and aircraft on arrival and departure routes.

  • Terminal Domain is the airspace domain that includes detecting aircraft operating from the surface to 10,000 Above Ground Level, and 30 Nautical Miles around the tower in Class B, C, and D airspaces.

  • Terminal and Enroute Surveillance Technical Refresh Portfolio (TES TRP) is a streamlined acquisition approach related to the sustainment of six radar models (ASR-8, ASR-9, ASR-11, ATCBI-5, ATCBI-6, and Mode S). The TES TRP validates, prioritizes, and manages projects necessary to sustain and maintain terminal and en route ground-based radar surveillance systems in the NAS. It is structured to provide streamlined acquisitions for sustainment of these systems by prioritizing and consolidating portfolio projects until divested or replaced.
Last updated: Monday, January 8, 2024