Fundamentals of Air Traffic Control

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Fundamentals of Air Traffic Control

• Terminal and Enroute Radar

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History
Robert Alexander Watson-Watt (1892-1973), a
descendant of James Watt, received a degree in
Electrical Engineering from the University of St.
Andrews, Scotland and in 1915 began a career in
the British civil service, He patented his first
radio location device, a device for locating
atmospheric discharges, in 1919. In 1935, he
received his eleventh radio-location patent, a
device for detecting and locating an approaching
aircraft. In the following years he was the
leader of the intensive development of aircraft
radio-location, the secret weapon of the Battle
of Britain. In 1937, before the war began,
Watson-Watt and his wife undertook the dangerous
task of traveling disguised as ordinary tourists
through Germany, searching for signs of German
radar stations.
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Theory and Fundamentals of Radar Operation

• Radar (radio detection and ranging)
• In 1888, Heinrich hertz demonstrated that radio
  waves were reflected by objects in the same
  manners light waves

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Fundamentals of Radar
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Components of Radar Systems

• Transmitter
• Antenna
• Receiver
• Indicator

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Components of Radar Systems

• Transmitter
• Creates high-powered radio pulses
• Operates in UHF band or higher
• Radar pulse last about one microsecond

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Components of Radar Systems

• Antenna
• Antenna functions as both a transmitting and
  receiving device
• Pulses emitted by the transmitter are routed to
  the antenna using a waveguide--a hollow metal
  channel that conducts the microwave energy to the
  antenna

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Components of Radar Systems

• Receiver
• Switched on as transmitter switches off
• Upon receiving a reflection, the radar system
  measures the time difference between the
  transmission and reception and uses this
  calculation to determine the objects distance
  from the antenna
• 12.36 microseconds is known as a radar-mile

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Components of Radar Systems

• Indicator
• Air traffic control uses a cathode ray tube known
  as a plan position indicator (PPI) radar scope

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Components of Radar Systems

• Indicator
• Center of PPI known as the MAIN BANG

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Components of Radar System

• Moving target indicator (MTI)
• One way of eliminates ground clutter
• Other way is to raise antenna a few degrees
• Check pages 309 - 314 of textbook

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Types of ATC Radar

• Precision Approach Radar (PAR)
• Airport Surveillance Radar (ASR)
• Air Route Surveillance Radar (ARSR)
• Airport Surface Detection Equipment (ASDE)

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Precision Approach Radar (PAR)

• Used primarily by the Department of Defense as a
  precision landing aid.

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Precision Approach Radar (PAR)

• Developed in the 1940s
• Before ILS

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Precision Approach Radar (PAR)

• PAR consisted of a mobile facility thus making it
  most effective for the military
• Many PARs at airports were placed in the middle
  so that they could be turned

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Precision Approach Radar (PAR)

• PAR proved its effectiveness during the Berlin
  Airlift, landing aircraft every 90 seconds
• Some PARs still remain even though ILS is the
  landing air of choice

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PAR Equipment (Inside)
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PAR Antenna System MPN 13 Mobile System
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New Stuff
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Airport Surveillance Radar (ASR)

• Primary short range radar used by FAA
• Most major civilian airports use ASR
• Used in Approach and Departure Control Facility
• Range of about 100 Miles

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Airport Surveillance Radar Antennas
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Air Route Surveillance Radar (ARSR)

• Long Range radar for Center use
• Have range of about 250 Miles

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Old Center Radar
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Center Radar Display
CO 123 350C B757 310
Slide courtesy of Prof. J. Hansman
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New Center Radar
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En Route Full Data Block
Aircraft Identification
Vector Line
AAL278 330C 068 500
Mode C Altitude X100
Position Symbol
Ground Speed
Beacon Target
Computer Identification Number
Histories
Leader Line
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Airport Surface Detection Equipment

• Short range radar system to help controller
  locate the locations of moving, ground based
  aircraft and vehicles

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ASDE