Before you provide radar service, establish and maintain radar identification of the aircraft involved, except as provided in paragraph 5-5-1 b2 and b3.
REFERENCE -
FAAO 7110.65, Use of Tower Radar Displays, paragraph 3-1-9.
5-3-2 Primary Radar Identification Methods
Identify a primary or radar beacon target by using one of the
following methods:
a. Observing a departing aircraft target within 1 mile of the
takeoff runway end at airports with an operating control tower, provided
one of the following methods of coordination is accomplished.
1. A verbal rolling/boundary notification is issued for each
departure, or
2. A non-verbal rolling/boundary notification is used for each
departure aircraft.
NOTE -
Non-verbal notification can be accomplished via the use of a manual
or electronic "drop tube" or automation.
b. Observing a target whose position with respect to a fix (displayed
on the video map, scribed on the map overlay, or displayed as a permanent
echo) or a visual reporting point (whose range and azimuth from the radar
antenna has been accurately determined and made available to the controller)
corresponds with a direct position report received from an aircraft, and
the observed track is consistent with the reported heading or route of
flight. If a TACAN/VORTAC is located within 6,000 feet of the radar antenna,
the TACAN/VORTAC may be used as a reference fix for radar identification
without being displayed on the video map or map overlay.
NOTE -
1 - Establishment of radar identification through use of DME position
information can be complicated by the fact that some military TACANs are
not collocated with frequency paired VORs and might be separated from them
by as much as 31 miles.
2 - Visual reporting points used for radar identification are limited
to those most used by pilots and whose range and azimuth have been determined
by supervisory personnel.
c. Observing a target make an identifying turn or turns of 30
degrees or more, provided the following conditions are met:
NOTE -
Use of identifying turns or headings which would cause the aircraft
to follow normal IFR routes or known VFR flight paths might result in misidentification.
When these circumstances cannot be avoided, additional methods of identification
may be necessary.
1. Except in the case of a lost aircraft, a pilot position report
is received which assures you that the aircraft is within radar coverage
and within the area being displayed.
2. Only one aircraft is observed making these turns.
3. For aircraft operating in accordance with an IFR clearance,
you either issue a heading away from an area which will require an increased
minimum IFR altitude or have the aircraft climb to the highest minimum
altitude in your area of jurisdiction before you issue a heading.
REFERENCE -
FAAO 7110.65, Use of Tower Radar Displays, paragraph 3-1-9.
FAAO 7110.65, Surveillance Unusable, paragraph 5-12-10.
5-3-3 Beacon Identification Methods
When using only Mode 3/A radar beacon to identify a target, use
one of the following methods:
a. Request the aircraft to activate the "IDENT" feature of the
transponder and then observe the identification display.
NOTE -
1 - At facilities where the single slash "IDENT" modification is installed
or other decoder modifications have been made which increase the number
of `blooming' target displays, it will be necessary to exercise additional
care to preclude the possibility of misidentification.
2 - TERMINAL: When automated displays are operated in the analog mode,
the "IDENT" return is displayed as a double slash and the emergency return
as a single bloomer whenever the beacon control head is in the "FAIL" position.
PHRASEOLOGY -
IDENT.
SQUAWK (code) AND IDENT.
b. Request the aircraft to change to a specific discrete or nondiscrete
code, as appropriate, and then observe the target or code display change.
If a code change is required in accordance with Section 2 of this Chapter,
use the codes specified therein.
c. Request the aircraft to change transponder to "standby." After
you observe the target disappear for sufficient scans to assure that loss
of target resulted from placing the transponder in "standby" position,
request the aircraft to return transponder to normal operation and then
observe the reappearance of the target.
PHRASEOLOGY -
SQUAWK STANDBY,
then,
SQUAWK NORMAL.
d. EN ROUTE: During narrowband operations, an aircraft may be considered identified when the full data block is automatically associated with the beacon target symbol of an aircraft that is squawking a discrete code assigned by the computer.
{New-98-3 Revised February 26, 1998}
PHRASEOLOGY -
SQUAWK (4-digit discrete code), AND IF YOUR ALTITUDE REPORTING
EQUIPMENT IS TURNED
OFF, SQUAWK ALTITUDE.
NOTE -
The AIM informs pilots to adjust Mode C transponders with altitude
reporting capability activated unless deactivation is requested by ATC.
SQUAWK ALTITUDE is included to provide applicable phraseology.
REFERENCE -
FAAO 7110.65, Use of Tower Radar Displays, paragraph 3-1-9.
FAAO 7110.65, Position Information, paragraph 5-3-6.
5-3-4 ARTS/PIDP Identification Methods
TERMINAL
a. Consider an autoacquired aircraft as identified when the data
block is displayed and is visible to you, and one of the following conditions
exist:
1. The radar or beacon identification procedures have been used
to confirm the identity of the tagged target.
2. The aircraft is being handed off through use of NAS Stage
A/ARTS, NAS Stage A/EARTS, NAS Stage A/PIDP, ARTS/ARTS, EARTS/ARTS, or
EARTS/PIDP automated handoff and one of the following does not appear in
the data block: "CST," "NAT," "NT," "AMB," "OLD," "NB," "TU," "AM," or
"OL."
b. Use the ARTS/PIDP data block to maintain target identity unless
it is in a coast status or displaced from the appropriate target.
c. A displaced data block shall be updated at all times.
REFERENCE -
FAAO 7110.65, Use of Tower Radar Displays, paragraph 3-1-9.
5-3-5 Questionable Identification
a. Use more than one method of identification when proximity of targets,
duplication of observed action, or any other circumstances cause doubt
as to target identification.
b. If identification is questionable for any reason, take immediate
action to reidentify the aircraft or terminate radar service.
REFERENCE -
FAAO 7110.65, Methods, paragraph 5-4-3.
Inform an aircraft of its position whenever radar identification is established by means of identifying turns or by any of the beacon identification methods outlined in paragraph 5-3-3. Position information need not be given when identification is established by position correlation or when a departing aircraft is identified within 1 mile of the takeoff runway end.
a. Inform an aircraft of radar contact when:
1. Initial radar identification in the ATC system is established.
2. Subsequent to loss of radar contact or terminating radar
service, radar identification is reestablished.
PHRASEOLOGY -
RADAR CONTACT (position if required).
b. Inform an aircraft when radar contact is lost.
PHRASEOLOGY -
RADAR CONTACT LOST (alternative instructions when required).
EN ROUTE
a. Use radar target markers (shrimp boats) on horizontal scopes
to provide continuous target identity. Post flight identification and altitude
when constant, on markers. Post miscellaneous items (abbreviated route,
vector headings, arrows to indicate climb and descent, etc.) at your discretion.
To prevent misinterpretation, use standard hand printed characters.
b. Automated Systems - Use data blocks that are associated with
the appropriate target symbol to provide continuous identity. Display flight
identification, interim altitude or assigned altitude if interim altitude
is not being used, and reported altitude as minimum display. Interim/assigned
altitude, reported altitude, or flight identification, or all may be temporarily
inhibited in NAS En route Stage A to eliminate an existing data block overlap
condition.