FAA Instrument Flight Instructor (FII)Instrument RegulationsHard
A pilot is being vectored for a Surveillance (ASR) approach at an airport without a control tower. Which statement correctly describes this type of radar approach?
- AASR provides azimuth (course) guidance only, and the pilot descends to an MDA, with recommended altitudes available at each mile on request.
- BASR provides both azimuth and glidepath guidance, allowing descent to a decision height (DH).
- CASR requires the aircraft to be equipped with airborne radar to receive glidepath information.
- DASR approaches may only be flown when a precision approach procedure is also available at the same airport.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. ASR provides azimuth (course) guidance only, and the pilot descends to an MDA, with recommended altitudes available at each mile on request.
An Airport Surveillance Radar (ASR) approach is a nonprecision approach in which the controller provides azimuth guidance only; the pilot descends to a published MDA and, if requested, the controller provides recommended altitudes at each mile on final. A PAR (Precision Approach Radar), by contrast, provides both azimuth and glidepath guidance to a DH.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. That description matches PAR (precision), not ASR (nonprecision).
- C. No airborne radar equipment is required; guidance is transmitted verbally by the controller using ground radar.
- D. ASR approaches can be published and flown independently of whether a precision approach exists.
Radar Approaches: PAR vs ASR
PAR (Precision Approach Radar) provides both azimuth and glidepath to a DH; ASR (Airport Surveillance Radar) provides azimuth only to an MDA.
- PAR: precision approach, azimuth + glidepath, descend to DH
- ASR: nonprecision, azimuth only, descend to MDA
- Controller can give recommended altitudes each mile on ASR final upon request
Memory trick: 'PAR = Precise (both), ASR = Azimuth only (Surveillance).'