Terminal Basic Radar Training - End-of-Lesson Review

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering air traffic control procedures, FDIO message formats, departure separations, visual approach requirements, radar services to VFR aircraft, emergency handling, and weather operations based on FAA Academy course tests.

Visual Approach Vector Weather Minimums

At airports with a weather reporting service, a vector for a visual approach may be initiated only when the reported ceiling is at least $500\text{ feet}$ above the MVA/MIA and visibility is $3\text{ miles}$ or greater.

Visual Approach Advisory (No Weather Reporting Service)

The advisory provided to a pilot requesting a visual approach at an airport lacking an official weather reporting service, stating that weather information is not available.

Discontinuation of Radar Separation (Visual Approach)

The point at which radar separation may be discontinued at an airport where visual approaches are being conducted, which occurs when visual separation is provided.

Visual Approach Following Clearance Phraseology

The standardized phraseology used to clear an aircraft for a visual approach when trailing another aircraft: "FOLLOW THE (type/carrier), CLEARED VISUAL APPROACH RUNWAY (number)."

Visual Approach Separation (Parallel Runways < $2{,}500\text{ Feet}$)

When vectoring aircraft to parallel runways separated by less than $2{,}500\text{ feet}$ with non-intersecting flight paths, IFR separation may be discontinued when the pilot reports the preceding aircraft in sight and has been instructed to maintain visual separation.

Visual Approach Separation (Parallel Runways $\ge 4{,}300\text{ Feet}$)

When vectoring aircraft whose flight paths do not intersect to parallel runways separated by $4{,}300\text{ feet}$ or more, standard separation must be maintained until one aircraft receives and the pilot acknowledges receipt of the visual approach clearance.

Heavy Jet / B757 Wake Turbulence Identification Requirement

The mandatory notification requirement informing all trailing aircraft cleared for a visual approach behind a heavy jet or B757 of the heavy jet/B757's airplane manufacturer and/or model.

Visual Approach with Airport in Sight (Preceding Aircraft Not Sighted)

The provision permitting an aircraft that reports the airport in sight, but not the preceding traffic, to be cleared for a visual approach provided standard separation is maintained until visual separation is provided.

Contact Approach

An IFR approach procedure that may be authorized only when requested by the pilot, ground visibility is at least $1\text{ statute mile}$, and approved separation is maintained with other IFR or SVFR aircraft.

Charted Visual Flight Procedures (CVFP)

Published visual flight procedures that require an operating control tower, landing runway and procedure name specified in the clearance, and visibility of $3\text{ miles}$ or more unless higher minimums are published.

Air Traffic Controller First Duty Priority

The primary operational responsibility of an air traffic controller: separating traffic and issuing safety alerts.

Additional Services

Air traffic services that are required based on the work situation, but may be precluded by higher priority duties, volume of traffic, frequency congestion, controller workload, and limitations of radar.

Radar Traffic Advisory

An advisory issued to alert pilots to other known or observed air traffic, transmitted by specifying azimuth, distance, direction, and aircraft type/altitude (if known).

"TRAFFIC NO FACTOR"

The specific phraseology used to inform an aircraft that it is clear of previously issued traffic when the pilot does not observe the traffic.

Weather or Chaff Deviations

Radar navigational guidance or course deviations around weather or chaff areas provided by the controller when requested by the pilot.

Traffic Avoidance Vector

A radar heading issued to assist an aircraft in avoiding traffic, authorized provided the pilot requests it and the controller concurs.

Bird Activity Advisory

Advisory information containing position, species or size (if known), course of flight, and altitude; controllers must continue issuing bird activity advisories for at least $15\text{ minutes}$ after receipt of the report.

Holding Pattern Surveillance Assist

The action required when radar surveillance reveals an aircraft straying outside its outer fix holding pattern airspace: assist the aircraft to return to the assigned airspace.

TCAS Resolution Advisory Separation Relief

The condition where a controller is relieved of the responsibility to provide standard separation between an aircraft and any other aircraft, airspace, terrain, or obstruction once the responding aircraft has begun a maneuver in response to an RA.

Unmanned Aircraft Activity Advisory

Advisories issued to potentially impacted aircraft concerning pilot-reported or tower-observed unmanned aircraft activity, maintained for $15\text{ minutes}$ following the last report.

Unauthorized Laser Illumination Event Phraseology

The standard air traffic phraseology used to report unauthorized laser activity: "UNAUTHORIZED LASER ILLUMINATION EVENT (location) (altitude)".

Flight Plan (FP) Message

An FDIO message entry used to input and store basic flight plan data into the computer system.

Amendment (AM) Message

An FDIO message type used to modify, add to, or delete previously filed and accepted flight plan data.

General Information (GI) Message

An FDIO message type used to enter and transmit plain language information, such as terminal weather forecasts.

Strip Request (SR) Message

An FDIO message entered by a controller to request and obtain a replacement flight progress strip from the computer.

Remove Strip (RS) Message

An FDIO entry format utilized to cancel and delete an existing flight plan and its associated strips from the computer.

Departure Message (DM)

An FDIO message entered to record and update an aircraft's actual departure time in the computer system.

Flight Plan Readout (FR) Message

An FDIO message format used to obtain a full display readout of an active or stored flight plan.

FDIO Monitor Display Areas

The three operational visual fields displayed on an FDIO screen: Composition, Incoming Information, and Previously Displayed Information.

Three-Speed Concept

A radar terminal speed sequencing framework utilizing standard speeds of $250\text{ KTS}$, $210\text{ KTS}$, and $170\text{ KTS}$.

Gap Vectoring Vertical Separation

An operational best practice requiring controllers to always utilize vertical separation when vectoring an aircraft into a gap on the final approach course.

Radar Scanning Technique

A systematic visual scan designed to ensure aircraft comply with control instructions, verify aircraft remain within delegated airspace, and identify gaps to fill using sequencing principles.

C to A Sequencing ("A" Aircraft)

In final approach sequencing methodology, the "A" aircraft designates the last aircraft established on the final approach course.

Final Approach Two-Mile Gap Interval Rule

The rule requiring controllers to add $2\text{ miles}$ to the in-trail spacing interval when filling a straight-in gap if a Lower Small (Cat I) is behind an Upper Large (Cat F), any Heavy is behind another Heavy, or any Heavy is behind any Large.

Wind Compensation Technique

The operational adjustment of pattern geometry and in-trail spacing to counteract the adverse effects of surface and aloft winds.

Wake Vortex Decay

The natural dissipation and breakdown of aircraft wake vortices, which is governed strictly by time and not by distance.

Rising Vortices

An anomalous wake turbulence behavior in which wingtip vortices rise rather than sink, indicating the presence of strong vertical wind currents.

Distress vs. Urgency

The two official categories of emergency conditions: distress signifies serious and/or imminent danger requiring immediate assistance, while urgency represents a condition concerning safety that does not require immediate assistance.

"MAYDAY"

The distress radio call that a pilot must repeat three times at the beginning of communication to declare a distress emergency.

Emergency Transfer of Responsibility

The operational restriction dictating that a controller communicating with an aircraft in distress should transfer control responsibility only if better handling will result.

Emergency Beacon Code Assignment Phraseology

The exact phraseology used to assign Mode A code 7700 to an aircraft not radar identified: "SQUAWK EMERGENCY ON SEVEN SEVEN ZERO ZERO."

Overdue Aircraft (Clearance Void Time)

The standard designating an aircraft as overdue when both radar and radio contact are lost and $30\text{ minutes}$ have elapsed past its clearance void time.

Emergency Declaration Agency Notification

The requirement that the Rescue Coordination Center (RCC) or Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) must be informed immediately when an aircraft declares an emergency.

Secondary Radar ASR Approach Contingency

The authorization permitting secondary radar alone to be used to conduct Airport Surveillance Radar (ASR) approaches when primary radar fails, provided an emergency exists and the pilot concurs.

Minimum Information to Start Emergency Assistance

The three mandatory initial items of information required to initiate ATC emergency assistance: aircraft identification and type, nature of the emergency, and pilot's desires.

Non-IFR Pilot Weather Inadvertent Encounter Procedure

The emergency air traffic procedure of informing a VFR pilot who has encountered IFR conditions of the appropriate minimum terrain/obstacle clearance altitude, and vectoring the pilot toward VFR conditions.

VFR Pilot in IFR Below Obstacle Clearance Altitude

The safety instruction required when an unqualified VFR pilot is trapped in IFR below minimum safe altitudes: provide a heading or radial on which the aircraft may climb to reach the appropriate minimum obstacle/terrain clearance altitude.

Fuel Dumping Separation Standard

The mandatory distance requirement to separate a VFR radar-identified aircraft from an aircraft engaged in dumping fuel by at least $5\text{ miles}$ radar or nonradar.

Initial Heading/Azimuth Departure Restriction

An ATC departure heading or turn instruction issued at locations with ATC service, structured so that the specified heading applies only within controlled airspace.

Low-Altitude Departure Vectoring (Diverse Vector Area)

The procedure permitting departures and missed-approach aircraft within $40\text{ miles}$ of the radar antenna to be vectored below the minimum IFR altitude if $3\text{ miles}$ separation from prominent obstacles on the radar scope is provided.

Obstacle Lateral Separation Correction (Climbing Departure)

The vectoring action required if a climbing departure's flight path is less than $3\text{ miles}$ from an obstacle: vector the aircraft to increase lateral separation until $3\text{ miles}$ from the obstruction is achieved.

Same-Airport Departure Course Divergence

The separation rule requiring radar identification within $1\text{ mile}$ of the takeoff runway and courses diverging by at least $15^\circ$ immediately after takeoff.

Parallel Runway Simultaneous Departures

The authorization permitting simultaneous releases of aircraft departing parallel runways in the same direction if courses diverge by $15^\circ$ or more and runway centerlines are separated by at least $2{,}500\text{ feet}$.

Two-Way Radio Failure (VFR Conditions)

The mandatory pilot procedure in the event of two-way radio communications failure while in VFR conditions: continue the flight under VFR and land as soon as practicable.

Standard Instrument Departure (SID)

A published ATC departure procedure primarily designed to expedite departure traffic flow and reduce both pilot and controller communications and workload.

Preferential Departure Route (PDR)

A preferred departure routing assigned only if a SID is not established for the departure route or if the pilot indicates they do not wish to fly a SID.

Pilot Weather Report (PIREP)

An in-flight report generated by pilots to describe actual meteorological conditions encountered aloft, which controllers are required to solicit whenever conditions such as moderate turbulence are reported.

Hazardous Inflight Weather Advisory Dissemination

The controller requirement to broadcast hazardous in-flight weather advisories on all facility and sector frequencies except the emergency frequency.

Class C Airspace Entry Requirement

The regulatory prerequisite mandating that an aircraft must establish two-way radio communication with the ATC facility providing services prior to entering Class C airspace.

Terminal Radar Service Area (TRSA) VFR Separation

The standard air traffic separation required between participating VFR aircraft operating within a TRSA: $500\text{ feet}$ vertical separation or visual separation.

Class B Airspace Operating Clearances and Equipment

The regulatory standard requiring aircraft operating in Class B airspace to establish two-way radio communication, obtain an explicit ATC clearance, and operate an operable transponder with automatic altitude reporting equipment (Mode C).

Terminal VFR Radar Service Program

The national air traffic control program that extends basic terminal radar services typically given to IFR aircraft to participating VFR aircraft.