Terminal Radar Traffic Control Systems

The Advanced Radar Traffic Control System (ARTS) is the first field application of digitaldata processing and display equipment to air traffic control in a medium-density terminal area. ARTS provides alpha-numeric data displayed on controllers´ scopes, consisting of aircraft identity, flight plan altitude, track number, and actual beacon-reported aircraft altitude and code. The alpha-numeric data with identity and altitude reporting and features of handoff, hold, and store areas will materially assist the controller, resulting in improved traffic control and reducing much of the verbal coordination otherwise required. The DAIR System (Direct Altitude and Identity Readout), a derivative system of ARTS, may be the means of achieving some of the benefits of automatic radar beacon processing at a cost and simplicity suitable for implementation at FAA lower-density terminal areas, and military RAPCON, RATCC, and mobile GCA facilities. A description of the joint FAA/DOD DAIR program background, design goals and operational characteristics is presented together with a report of development progress to date.