scope:

OVERVIEW 

Air traffic is growing at a significant rate. There is also an increasing demand for more operating flexibility to improve aircraft efficiency and to reduce the impact of air travel on the environment. Improved tools are required to safely manage increasing levels and complexity of air traffic. Aeronautical surveillance is one such important tool in the air traffic management (ATM) process.

This manual has been produced as a reference document on aeronautical surveillance for ATM purposes. The chapters introduce the topic and should leave the reader with a good understanding of how aeronautical surveillance is applied in the ATM process. The chapters contain:

a) an explanation of aeronautical surveillance;

b) the identification of operational services supported by surveillance;

c) guidance on performance of a surveillance system;

d) a description of the different components of an air-ground surveillance system;

e) a description of the different components of an air-air surveillance system; and

f) a discussion on issues related to deployment of surveillance systems.

The appendices contain detailed information on the main topics covered in the chapters. Other useful documents are referenced in the document and also listed in the References section.