Comparison Between PSR and SSR

Question 1

List the 5 advantages of PSR

Answer 1

1) Self container needs no external input
2) Independent operation, solely provides identification and fix of aircraft
3) Non-reliant ( No transponders)
4) PE used for calibration
5) Weather Information

Question 2

List the 6 disadvantages of PSR

Answer 2

1) No level information
2) Identification Workload
3)Weather Clutter
4)PEs can block echoes from Aircraft
5)Range dependent on:
A)Transmitter power
B)Target Size
C)Target Attitude
D) Target properties
6)No emergency Indications(aside from flying circles)

Question 3

List the 6 advantages of SSR

Answer 3

1) Less Transmitter power needed for similar range
2) No ground or weather clutter
3) Identification simplified/displayed
4) Vertical Information Displayed
5) Emergency Codes
6) Independent of equivalent echoing area.

Question 4

List the 5 disadvantages of SSR

Answer 4

1) All a/c require a Transponder
2) No weather returns
3) F.R.U.I.T
4) Garbling
5) No PEs for display alignment

Question 5

SSR can be used on its own for Identification and control. True or False?

Answer 5

False
Only PSR can be used on its own for Identification and control of Aircraft.

SSR May only be used alone for a period specified.

Question 6

List the two safety nets SSR has

Answer 6

Short Term Conflict (STCA)

Minimum Safe Altitude Warning (MSAW)

Question 7

What does Short Term Conflict (STCA) do?

Answer 7

Visual and aural warning if potential aircraft conflicts detected.

Question 8

What does Minimum Safe Altitude Warning (MSAW) do?

Answer 8

Visual and aural warning if radar system detects aircraft below minimum Safe Altitude based on SSR transponder

Question 9

What is Runway Incursion Monitor and Collision Avoidance System (RIMCAS)?

Answer 9

Fitted to some SMR.
Provides Tower ATCO with audio and visual warnings of potential conflicts in the runway.
Both PSR and SSR can trigger it.

Question 10

What is Approach Monitoring Aid?

Answer 10

Automatically monitors aircraft on final and provides visual and aural alert to Tower if in significant lateral or vertical deviation from final approach track or glide path

Question 11

What does Controller Airspace Infringement Tool(CAIT) do?

Answer 11

Monitors sqk and Mode C readouts to alert radar controller to any unauthorised entries into CAS

Question 12

What is the version CAIT for primary radar called?

Answer 12

PCAIT

Question 13

How does pCAIT work?

Answer 13

It extends upwards from the surface with no upper limits