Types of Surveillance Radar

Question 1

Primary Surveillance Radar (PSR)

Answer 1

● PSR computes target positions by determining the range and azimuth of transmitted and reflected radio frequency energy.
● It is a passive surveillance system and therefore does not rely on information transmitted from the aircraft. A transponder is not required.
● Types of PSR: TSR, PAR, ASDE, Weather Radar

Question 2

Terminal Surveillance Radar (TSR)

Answer 2

● A short-range PSR (80 NM) operating on 1250 to 1350 MHz will complement SSR for terminal operations.
○ (More on SSR later!)
● Altitude is not displayed on systems with PSR

Question 3

Precision Approach Radar (PAR)

Answer 3

● PAR provides the controller with altitude, azimuth and range information of high accuracy to assist pilots in executing approaches with a VHF radio.
● While PAR is mainly a military system, it is available at some civilian airports and may be used by civilian pilots.
● Civil aircraft approach limits are published in the CAP
and the Restricted Canada Air Pilot (RCAP) with similar minimums as a ILS.
○ It is short range where controllers gives both lateral and vertical guidance to the pilot

Question 4

Airport Surface Detection Equipment (ASDE)

Answer 4

● Surveillance of surface traffic is provided at airports where traffic warrants it.
● ASDE is a high-definition PSR operating on 16 GHz.
● Tower controllers use ASDE to monitor the position of aircraft and vehicles on the manoeuvring areas of the airport (runways and taxiways), particularly during conditions of reduced visibility.
● Essentially creates a map of all airport surface traffic at that momen

Question 5

Weather Radar

Answer 5

● Weather radar is a PSR used by the Meteorological Service of Canada (MSC) to monitor for hazardous weather conditions

Question 6

Secondary Surveillance Radar (SSR)

Answer 6

● SSR determines aircraft range by measuring the interval between transmitting an interrogation to and receiving a reply from an airborne transponder.
● SSR is a cooperative surveillance system and does not provide a position for an aircraft without an operating transponder
● SSR offers significant operational advantages to ATC.
These advantages include:
○ Increased range,
○ positive identification of the aircraft,
○ and aircraft altitude.
● Remember, SSR only works with an operating transponder!
● It does not detect weather, thunderstorms, or birds.

Question 7

En-route Control (SSR)

Answer 7

● En route Control SSR is a long-range radar with a range of 200 NM or more.
● It transmits on 1030 MHz and receives the transponder reply on 1090 MHz.
● SSR is the main source of en route (airway/RNAV route) surveillance and is not normally combined with PSR

Question 8

Terminal Control (TSR)

Answer 8

● Terminal Control TSR uses long-range SSR equipment similar to en route control and may be used in conjunction with a short-range PSR