What is the range of Airport Surveillance Radar (ASR)?

The range of Airport Surveillance Radar (ASR) is typically about 60 nautical miles. ASR is designed to provide air traffic controllers with the position, altitude, and identification of aircraft in the vicinity of an airport, which is crucial for managing arriving and departing traffic effectively.

This range allows for adequate surveillance of aircraft movements around the airport environment and can help in maintaining safety during takeoff, landing, and in the general vicinity of the runway. The 60 nautical mile range is also preferable for staying well within the parameters needed for both terminal and en-route air traffic control operations.

Understanding the operational capability and limitations of ASR is important for ensuring the efficient management of airspace and the safety of aircraft operations. Other options, while indicative of ranges for different types of radar systems (for instance, longer ranges might apply to en-route radar systems), do not accurately reflect the functional specifications of ASR.