PRECISION APPROACH RADAR

PAR provides both vertical and lateral guidance, as well as range, much like an ILS, making it the most precise radar approach available. The radar approach, however, is not able to provide visual approach indications in the cockpit. This requires the flight crew to listen and comply with controller instructions. PAR approaches are rare, with most of the approaches used in a military setting; any opportunity to practice this type of approach is beneficial to any flight crew.

The final approach course of a PAR approach is always directly aligned with the runway centerline, and the associated glide slope is typically no less than 2 degrees and no more than 3 degrees. Obstacle clearance for the final approach area is based on the particular established glide slope angle and the exact formula is outlined in TERPS Volume 1, Chapter 10. [Figure 5-54]

Figure 5-54. PAR Final Approach Area Criteria.