Radar, Airfield, and Weather Systems (RAWS) CDC Volume 2 Practice Test

ASR, or Airport Surveillance Radar, is used to provide radar-based surveillance of aircraft in the terminal area. It scans the airspace around the airport to detect aircraft, measuring their position (range and bearing) and presenting real-time targets to the controller. This surveillance data lets air traffic control maintain safe separation between aircraft and to sequence arrivals and departures efficiently as they flow through the terminal area and onto approach paths. In practice, ASR data is often combined with transponder information (like SSR/Mode S) to enhance tracking with altitude when available, giving a clearer, three-dimensional picture of traffic. This role is distinct from weather-focused systems and from ground-operations communications, which are not part of radar surveillance.