Which radar type is used for terminal-area surveillance with about a 60 nautical mile range?

• A. Airport Surveillance Radar
• B. Air Route Surveillance Radar
• C. Airport Surface Detection Equipment
• D. Precision Runway Monitoring

Answer: (A)

Terminal-area surveillance is about tracking aircraft around an airport to manage arrivals and departures within a roughly 60 nautical mile radius. Airport Surveillance Radar is designed for this role, providing the air traffic controllers with real-time radar coverage of the airspace around the airport to monitor and sequence inbound and outbound flights. The other options serve different purposes: Air Route Surveillance Radar covers much larger, en-route airspace at longer ranges; Airport Surface Detection Equipment monitors movement on the airport surface rather than in the air; and Precision Runway Monitoring focuses on precise monitoring of aircraft on approach to a specific runway. So for terminal-area surveillance at about 60 nautical miles, the appropriate radar is Airport Surveillance Radar.