Radar Control

The control of aircraft by reference to information relating to aircraft positions, speeds and altitudes provided by a Radar or Surveillance System.

Radar Level

An aircraft’s altitude (or level) displayed in its label for controller information and use. It is relayed electronically from the aircraft’s altimeter to the ground system via a device called a Transponder. Also called Mode Charlie Level.

Radar Separation

The act by the controller of providing a minimum prescribed distance between two aircraft by reference to their positions provided by a Radar System.

Radar SID

A radar SID is a departure procedure that terminates in the aircraft flying a radar vector under the control of the Approach/Departures controller.

Radar Track

The display to the controller of an aircraft’s geographic position at the latest radar update, enhanced to include a history of its position at previous updates, and a projection of its future movement.

Radar Vectoring

The act by a Radar Controller of controlling an aircraft’s flightpath by instructing the pilot to steer a magnetic direction (heading). It is done for a variety of control purposes, principally sequencing and separation.

Range Scale

The maximum range (distance from the airport) that is displayed on the radar screen. It is selectable in the VV Simulator, and in operational systems.

Rate of Turn

The rate at which an aircraft carries out a turn. It is limited by factors such as controllability and passenger comfort. A typical Rate of Turn for aircraft at low levels is 2° per second, which results in a 90° turn taking thirty seconds, a 180° one sixty seconds, and a complete 360° turn taking two minutes.