RADAR -- RUNWAY VISUAL RANGE
RADAR- A device which, by measuring the time interval between transmission
and reception of radio pulses and correlating the angular orientation of the
radiated antenna beam or beams in azimuth and/or elevation, provides information
on range, azimuth, and/or elevation of objects in the path of the transmitted
pulses.
a. Primary Radar- A radar system in which a minute portion of a
radio pulse transmitted from a site is reflected by an object and then
received back at that site for processing and display at an air traffic
control facility.
b. Secondary Radar/Radar Beacon (ATCRBS)- A radar system in which
the object to be detected is fitted with cooperative equipment in the form of
a radio receiver/transmitter (transponder). Radar pulses transmitted from the
searching transmitter/receiver (interrogator) site are received in the
cooperative equipment and used to trigger a distinctive transmission from the
transponder. This reply transmission, rather than a reflected signal, is then
received back at the transmitter/receiver site for processing and display at
an air traffic control facility.
(See ICAO term PRIMARY RADAR.)
(See ICAO term SECONDARY RADAR.)
RADAR [ICAO]- A radio detection device which
provides information on range, azimuth and/or elevation of objects.
a. Primary Radar- Radar system which uses reflected radio
signals.
b. Secondary Radar- Radar system wherein a radio signal transmitted
from a radar station initiates the transmission of a radio signal from another
station.
RADAR ADVISORY- The provision of advice and information based on
radar observations.
RADAR ALTIMETER- (See RADIO ALTIMETER.)
RADAR APPROACH- An instrument approach procedure which utilizes Precision
Approach Radar (PAR) or Airport Surveillance Radar (ASR).
(See AIRPORT SURVEILLANCE RADAR.)
(See INSTRUMENT APPROACH PROCEDURE.)
(See PRECISION APPROACH RADAR.)
(See SURVEILLANCE APPROACH.)
(See ICAO term RADAR APPROACH.)
RADAR APPROACH [ICAO]- An approach, executed by an
aircraft, under the direction of a radar controller.
RADAR APPROACH CONTROL FACILITY- A terminal ATC facility that uses radar and
nonradar capabilities to provide approach control services to aircraft arriving,
departing, or transiting airspace controlled by the facility
(See APPROACH CONTROL SERVICE.)
a. Provides radar ATC services to aircraft operating in the
vicinity of one or more civil and/or military airports in a terminal area. The
facility may provide services of a ground controlled approach (GCA); i.e., ASR
and PAR approaches. A radar approach control facility may be operated by FAA,
USAF, US Army, USN, USMC, or jointly by FAA and a military service. Specific
facility nomenclatures are used for administrative purposes only and are
related to the physical location of the facility and the operating service
generally as follows:
1. Army Radar Approach Control (ARAC) (Army).
2. Radar Air Traffic Control Facility (RATCF) (Navy/FAA).
3. Radar Approach Control (RAPCON) (Air Force/FAA).
4. Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) (FAA).
5. Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) (FAA). (Only those towers
delegated approach control authority.).
RADAR ARRIVAL- An aircraft
arriving at an airport served by a radar facility and in radar contact with the
facility.
RADAR BEACON- (See RADAR.)
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 automatically discontinues reporting over compulsory reporting
points.
(See RADAR CONTACT LOST.)
(See RADAR FLIGHT FOLLOWING.)
(See RADAR SERVICE TERMINATED.)
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 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.
RADAR CLUTTER [ICAO]- The visual indication on
a radar display of unwanted signals.
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 ENVIRONMENT- An area in which radar service may be provided.
(See ADDITIONAL SERVICES.)
(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.
RADAR IDENTIFICATION- The process of ascertaining
that an observed radar target is the radar return from a particular aircraft.
(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 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 NOTAM's 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.
RADAR ROUTE- A flight path or route over which
an aircraft is vectored. Navigational guidance and altitude assignments are
provided by ATC.
RADAR SEPARATION- (See RADAR SERVICE.)
RADAR SERVICE- A term which encompasses one or more of the following services
based on the use of radar which can be provided by a controller to a pilot of a
radar identified aircraft.
a. Radar Monitoring- The radar flight-following of aircraft, whose
primary navigation is being performed by the pilot, to observe and note
deviations from its authorized flight path, airway, or route. When being
applied specifically to radar monitoring of instrument approaches; i.e., with
precision approach radar (PAR) or radar monitoring of simultaneous ILS/MLS
approaches, it includes advice and instructions whenever an aircraft nears or
exceeds the prescribed PAR safety limit or simultaneous ILS/MLS no
transgression zone.
(See ADDITIONAL SERVICES.)
(See TRAFFIC ADVISORIES.)
b. Radar Navigational Guidance- Vectoring aircraft to provide
course guidance.
c. Radar Separation- Radar spacing of aircraft in accordance with
established minima.
(See ICAO term RADAR SERVICE.)
RADAR SERVICE [ICAO]- Term used to
indicate a service provided directly by means of radar.
a. Monitoring- The use of radar for the purpose of providing
aircraft with information and advice relative to significant deviations from
nominal flight path.
b. Separation- The separation used when aircraft position
information is derived from radar sources.
RADAR SERVICE TERMINATED-
Used by ATC to inform a pilot that he will no longer be provided any of
the services that could be received while in radar contact. Radar service is
automatically terminated, and the pilot is not advised in the following cases:
a. An aircraft cancels its IFR flight plan, except within Class B
airspace, Class C airspace, a TRSA, or where Basic Radar service is
provided.
b. An aircraft conducting an instrument, visual, or contact
approach has landed or has been instructed to change to advisory frequency.
c. An arriving VFR aircraft, receiving radar service to a
tower-controlled airport within Class B airspace, Class C airspace, a TRSA, or
where sequencing service is provided, has landed; or to all other airports, is
instructed to change to tower or advisory frequency.
d. An aircraft completes a radar approach.
RADAR SURVEILLANCE-
The radar observation of a given geographical area for the purpose of performing
some radar function.
RADAR TRAFFIC ADVISORIES- Advisories issued to alert pilots to known or
observed radar traffic which may affect the intended route of flight of their
aircraft.
(See TRAFFIC ADVISORIES.)
RADAR TRAFFIC INFORMATION SERVICE- (See
TRAFFIC ADVISORIES.)
RADAR VECTORING [ICAO]- Provision of navigational guidance to aircraft in the
form of specific headings, based on the use of radar.
RADAR WEATHER ECHO INTENSITY LEVELS- Existing radar systems cannot detect
turbulence. However, there is a direct correlation between the degree of
turbulence and other weather features associated with thunderstorms and the
radar weather echo intensity. The National Weather Service has categorized radar
weather echo intensity for precipitation into six levels. These levels are
sometimes expressed during communications as "VIP LEVEL" 1 through 6 (derived
from the component of the radar that produces the information-Video Integrator
and Processor). The following list gives the "VIP LEVELS" in relation to the
precipitation intensity within a thunderstorm:
(See AC 00-45, Aviation Weather Services.)
RADIAL- A magnetic
bearing extending from a VOR/VORTAC/TACAN navigation facility.
RADIO-
a. A device used for communication.
b. Used to refer to a flight service station; e.g., "Seattle Radio"
is used to call Seattle FSS.
RADIO ALTIMETER- Aircraft equipment which makes
use of the reflection of radio waves from the ground to determine the height of
the aircraft above the surface.
RADIO BEACON- (See NONDIRECTIONAL BEACON.)
RADIO DETECTION AND RANGING- (See RADAR.)
RADIO MAGNETIC INDICATOR- An aircraft navigational instrument coupled with a
gyro compass or similar compass that indicates the direction of a selected
NAVAID and indicates bearing with respect to the heading of the aircraft.
RAMP- (See APRON.)
RANDOM ALTITUDE- An altitude inappropriate for direction of flight and/or not
in accordance with FAA Order 7110.65, paragraph 4-5-1, VERTICAL SEPARATION
MINIMA.
RANDOM ROUTE- Any route not established or charted/published or not otherwise
available to all users.
RC- (See ROAD RECONNAISSANCE.)
RCAG- (See REMOTE COMMUNICATIONS AIR/GROUND FACILITY.)
RCC- (See RESCUE COORDINATION CENTER.)
RCO- (See REMOTE COMMUNICATIONS OUTLET.)
RCR- (See RUNWAY CONDITION READING.)
READ BACK- Repeat my message back to me.
RECEIVER AUTONOMOUS INTEGRITY MONITORING (RAIM)- A technique whereby a civil
GNSS receiver/processor determines the integrity of the GNSS navigation signals
without reference to sensors or non-DoD integrity systems other than the
receiver itself. This determination is achieved by a consistency check among
redundant pseudorange measurements.
RECEIVING CONTROLLER- A controller/facility receiving control of an aircraft
from another controller/facility.
RECEIVING FACILITY- (See RECEIVING CONTROLLER.)
REDUCE SPEED TO (SPEED)- (See SPEED ADJUSTMENT.)
REIL- (See RUNWAY END IDENTIFIER LIGHTS.)
RELEASE TIME- A departure time restriction issued to a pilot by ATC (either
directly or through an authorized relay) when necessary to separate a departing
aircraft from other traffic.
(See ICAO term RELEASE TIME.)
RELEASE TIME [ICAO]- Time prior to
which an aircraft should be given further clearance or prior to which it should
not proceed in case of radio failure.
REMOTE COMMUNICATIONS AIR/GROUND FACILITY- An unmanned VHF/UHF
transmitter/receiver facility which is used to expand ARTCC air/ground
communications coverage and to facilitate direct contact between pilots and
controllers. RCAG facilities are sometimes not equipped with emergency
frequencies 121.5 MHz and 243.0 MHz.
REMOTE COMMUNICATIONS OUTLET- An unmanned
communications facility remotely controlled by air traffic personnel. RCO's
serve FSS's. RTR's serve terminal ATC facilities. An RCO or RTR may be UHF or
VHF and will extend the communication range of the air traffic facility. There
are several classes of RCO's and RTR's. The class is determined by the number of
transmitters or receivers. Classes A through G are used primarily for air/ground
purposes. RCO and RTR class O facilities are nonprotected outlets subject to
undetected and prolonged outages. RCO (O's) and RTR (O's) were established for
the express purpose of providing ground-to-ground communications between air
traffic control specialists and pilots located at a satellite airport for
delivering en route clearances, issuing departure authorizations, and
acknowledging instrument flight rules cancellations or departure/landing times.
As a secondary function, they may be used for advisory purposes whenever the
aircraft is below the coverage of the primary air/ground frequency.
REMOTE TRANSMITTER/RECEIVER- (See REMOTE COMMUNICATIONS OUTLET.)
REPORT- Used to instruct pilots to advise ATC of specified
information; e.g., "Report passing Hamilton VOR."
REPORTING POINT- A geographical location in relation to which the position of
an aircraft is reported.
(See COMPULSORY REPORTING POINTS.)
(See ICAO term REPORTING POINT.)
REPORTING POINT [ICAO]- A specified geographical
location in relation to which the position of an aircraft can be reported.
REQUEST FULL ROUTE CLEARANCE- Used by pilots to request that
the entire route of flight be read verbatim in an ATC clearance. Such request
should be made to preclude receiving an ATC clearance based on the original
filed flight plan when a filed IFR flight plan has been revised by the pilot,
company, or operations prior to departure.
RESCUE COORDINATION CENTER- A search and rescue (SAR) facility equipped and
manned to coordinate and control SAR operations in an area designated by the SAR
plan. The U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Air Force have responsibility for the
operation of RCC's.
(See ICAO term RESCUE CO-ORDINATION CENTRE.)
RESCUE CO-ORDINATION
CENTRE [ICAO]- A unit responsible for promoting efficient organization of search
and rescue service and for coordinating the conduct of search and rescue
operations within a search and rescue region.
RESOLUTION ADVISORY-A display indication given to the pilot by the traffic
alert and collision avoidance systems (TCAS II) recommending a maneuver to
increase vertical separation relative to an intruding aircraft. Positive,
negative, and vertical speed limit (VSL) advisories constitute the resolution
advisories. A resolution advisory is also classified as corrective or preventive
RESTRICTED AREA- (See SPECIAL USE AIRSPACE.)
(See ICAO term RESTRICTED AREA.)
RESTRICTED AREA [ICAO]- An
airspace of defined dimensions, above the land areas or territorial waters of a
State, within which the flight of aircraft is restricted in accordance with
certain specified conditions.
RESUME OWN NAVIGATION- Used by ATC to advise a pilot to resume
his own navigational responsibility. It is issued after completion of a radar
vector or when radar contact is lost while the aircraft is being radar vectored.
(See RADAR CONTACT LOST.)
(See RADAR SERVICE TERMINATED.)
RESUME NORMAL SPEED-
Used by ATC to advise a pilot that previously issued speed control restrictions
are deleted. An instruction to "resume normal speed" does not delete speed
restrictions that are applicable to published procedures of upcoming segments of
flight, unless specifically stated by ATC. This does not relieve the pilot of
those speed restrictions which are applicable to FAR 91.117.
RMI- (See RADIO MAGNETIC INDICATOR.)
RNAV- (See AREA NAVIGATION.)
RNAV [ICAO]- (See ICAO Term AREA NAVIGATION.)
RNAV APPROACH- An instrument approach procedure which relies on aircraft area
navigation equipment for navigational guidance.
(See INSTRUMENT APPROACH PROCEDURE.)
ROAD RECONNAISSANCE- Military
activity requiring navigation along roads, railroads, and rivers. Reconnaissance
route/route segments are seldom along a straight line and normally require a
lateral route width of 10 NM to 30 NM and an altitude range of 500 feet to
10,000 feet AGL.
ROGER- I have received all of your last transmission. It should
not be used to answer a question requiring a yes or a no answer.
ROLLOUT RVR- (See VISIBILITY.)
ROUTE- A defined path, consisting of one or more courses in a horizontal
plane, which aircraft traverse over the surface of the earth.
ROUTE SEGMENT- As used in Air Traffic
Control, a part of a route that can be defined by two navigational fixes, two
NAVAID's, or a fix and a NAVAID.
(See ICAO term ROUTE SEGMENT.)
ROUTE SEGMENT [ICAO]- A portion of a
route to be flown, as defined by two consecutive significant points specified in
a flight plan.
RSA- (See RUNWAY SAFETY AREA.)
RTR- (See REMOTE TRANSMITTER/RECEIVER.)
RUNWAY- A defined rectangular area on a land airport prepared for the landing
and takeoff run of aircraft along its length. Runways are normally numbered in
relation to their magnetic direction rounded off to the nearest 10 degrees;
e.g., Runway 1, Runway 25.
RUNWAY [ICAO]- A defined rectangular area
on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and takeoff of aircraft.
RUNWAY CENTERLINE LIGHTING- (See AIRPORT LIGHTING.)
RUNWAY CONDITION READING- Numerical decelerometer readings relayed by air
traffic controllers at USAF and certain civil bases for use by the pilot in
determining runway braking action. These readings are routinely relayed only to
USAF and Air National Guard Aircraft.
RUNWAY END IDENTIFIER LIGHTS- (See AIRPORT
LIGHTING.)
RUNWAY GRADIENT- The average slope, measured in percent, between two ends or
points on a runway. Runway gradient is depicted on Government aerodrome sketches
when total runway gradient exceeds 0.3%.
RUNWAY HEADING- The magnetic direction that corresponds with
the runway centerline extended, not the painted runway number. When cleared to
"fly or maintain runway heading," pilots are expected to fly or maintain the
heading that corresponds with the extended centerline of the departure runway.
Drift correction shall not be applied; e.g., Runway 4, actual magnetic heading
of the runway centerline 044, fly 044.
RUNWAY IN USE/ACTIVE RUNWAY/DUTY RUNWAY- Any runway or runways currently
being used for takeoff or landing. When multiple runways are used, they are all
considered active runways. In the metering sense, a selectable adapted item
which specifies the landing runway configuration or direction of traffic flow.
The adapted optimum flight plan from each transition fix to the vertex is
determined by the runway configuration for arrival metering processing purposes.
RUNWAY LIGHTS- (See AIRPORT LIGHTING.)
RUNWAY MARKINGS- (See AIRPORT MARKING AIDS.)
RUNWAY OVERRUN- In military aviation exclusively, a stabilized or paved area
beyond the end of a runway, of the same width as the runway plus shoulders,
centered on the extended runway centerline.
RUNWAY PROFILE DESCENT- An instrument flight rules (IFR) air traffic control
arrival procedure to a runway published for pilot use in graphic and/or textual
form and may be associated with a STAR. Runway Profile Descents provide routing
and may depict crossing altitudes, speed restrictions, and headings to be flown
from the en route structure to the point where the pilot will receive clearance
for and execute an instrument approach procedure. A Runway Profile Descent may
apply to more than one runway if so stated on the chart.
RUNWAY SAFETY AREA- A defined surface surrounding
the runway prepared, or suitable, for reducing the risk of damage to airplanes
in the event of an undershoot, overshoot, or excursion from the runway. The
dimensions of the RSA vary and can be determined by using the criteria contained
within AC 150/5300-13, Airport Design, Chapter 3. Figure 3-1 in AC 150/5300-13
depicts the RSA. The design standards dictate that the RSA shall be:
a. Cleared, graded, and have no potentially hazardous ruts, humps,
depressions, or other surface variations;
b. Drained by grading or storm sewers to prevent water
accumulation;
c. Capable, under dry conditions, of supporting snow removal
equipment, aircraft rescue and firefighting equipment, and the occasional
passage of aircraft without causing structural damage to the aircraft; and,
d. Free of objects, except for objects that need to be located in
the runway safety area because of their function. These objects shall be
constructed on low impact resistant supports (frangible mounted structures) to
the lowest practical height with the frangible point no higher than 3 inches
above grade.
(Refer to AC 150/5300-13, Airport Design, Chapter 3.)
RUNWAY USE
PROGRAM- A noise abatement runway selection plan designed to enhance noise
abatement efforts with regard to airport communities for arriving and departing
aircraft. These plans are developed into runway use programs and apply to all
turbojet aircraft 12,500 pounds or heavier; turbojet aircraft less than 12,500
pounds are included only if the airport proprietor determines that the aircraft
creates a noise problem. Runway use programs are coordinated with FAA offices,
and safety criteria used in these programs are developed by the Office of Flight
Operations. Runway use programs are administered by the Air Traffic Service as
"Formal" or "Informal" programs.
a. Formal Runway Use Program- An approved noise abatement program
which is defined and acknowledged in a Letter of Understanding between Flight
Operations, Air Traffic Service, the airport proprietor, and the users. Once
established, participation in the program is mandatory for aircraft operators
and pilots as provided for in FAR Part 91.129.
b. Informal Runway Use Program- An approved noise abatement program
which does not require a Letter of Understanding, and participation in the
program is voluntary for aircraft operators/pilots.
RUNWAY VISIBILITY VALUE-
(See VISIBILITY.)
RUNWAY VISUAL RANGE- (See VISIBILITY.)