Comparison of Surveillance Technologies Flashcards
Advantages of Primary over Secondary Radar
Self contained
Independent operation
Non-reliant
Permanent echoes available
Weather information available
Disadvantages of Primary over Secondary Radar
No level Information
Identification required
Weather clutter
Permanent echo blockage
Range dependent on physicality and power
No emergency indication
Advantages of Secondary over Primary Radar
Less transmitter power needed for similar range
No ground or weather clutter
Identification of aircraft simplified and displayed
Vertical information displayed
Emergency squawk codes
Disadvantages of Secondary over Primary Radar
All aircraft require a transponder
No weather returns
Fruiting
Garbling
Fading
No permanent echoes for display calibration
What is usually used in the live environment, Primary or Secondary?
A combination of both is used to gain the full advantages of both.
Can Secondary Radar be used as a sole aid to control?
Yes, but there are strict limitations as it only shows returns from squawking aircraft.
Which can be fitted with automatic safety nets, Primary or Secondary?
Secondary. It can automatically interpret aircraft position symbols and DAPs to detect and alert controller to potential dangers.
Describe STCA
Short Term Conflict Alert
Ground Based safety net intended to assist the controller in preventing collisions between aircraft by generating, in a timely manner, an alert of a potential or actual infringement of separation minima.
Describe MTCD
Medium Term Conflict Detection
A flight data processing system designed to warn the controller of potential conflict between flights in their area of responsibility in a time horizon extending up to 20 minutes ahead.
What are some features of MTCD?
Trajectory Prediction
Conflict Detection
Trajectory Update
Trajectory Edit
Describe MSAW
Minimum Safe Altitude Warning
Ground-based safety net to warn the controller about increased risk of CFIT accidents by generating an alert of aircraft proximity to terrain or obstacles.
Describe RIMCAS
Runway Incursion Monitor and Collision Avoidance System
Fitted to some SMR, provides Tower with Audio & Visual warnings of runway conflictions. PSR and SSR can both trigger RIMCAS.
Describe AFDAS
Approach Funnel Deviation Alerting System
An approach monitoring aid that automatically monitors aircraft on final and provides a warning in the event of any significant lateral or vertical deviation.
Describe CAIT
Controlled Airspace Infringement Tool
Monitors squawks and mode C readouts to alert radar controller to any unauthorised entries into controlled airspace.
Primary CAIT can also detect non-squawking aircraft using CAS.
