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PRECISION APPROACH RADAR

Pilot/Controller Glossary with JO 7110.65BB, Change 3, effective July 9, 2026 · Official text on faa.gov

Radar equipment in some ATC facilities operated by the FAA and/or the military services at joint‐use civil/military locations and separate military installations to detect and display azimuth, elevation, and range of aircraft on the final approach course to a runway. This equipment may be used to monitor certain nonradar approaches, but is primarily used to conduct a precision instrument approach (PAR) wherein the controller issues guidance instructions to the pilot based on the aircraft's position in relation to the final approach course (azimuth), the glidepath (elevation), and the distance (range) from the touchdown point on the runway as displayed on the radar scope.

See GLIDEPATH; PAR; PRECISION APPROACH RADAR ICAO.

Refer to AIM.

ICAO definition

Primary radar equipment used to determine the position of an aircraft during final approach, in terms of lateral and vertical deviations relative to a nominal approach path, and in range relative to touchdown.

In the 7110.65

Used in 14 paragraphs of JO 7110.65BB.

  1. 1-2-6Abbreviations
  2. 2-1-6Safety Alert
  3. 2-1-25Wheels Down Check
  4. 2-4-19Facility Identification
  5. 3-4-13Hirl Changes Affecting Rvr
  6. 4-7-5Military Turbojet En Route Descent
  7. 5-10-2Approach Information
  8. 5-10-3No‐Gyro Approach
  9. 5-10-4Lost Communications
  10. 5-10-6Landing Check
  11. 5-10-14Final Approach Abnormalities
  12. 5-12-8Approach Guidance Termination
  13. 5-12-10Elevation Failure
  14. 5-12-11Surveillance Unusable