khashyatc

Hi all,
the ICAO definition of RADAR is:
A radio detection device which provides information on range, azimuth and/or elevation of objects.
and the ICAO definition of elevation is:

The vertical distance of a point or a level, on or affixed to the surface of the earth, measured from mean sea level.

I find from this definitions that radar provides information only of the objects which are on the geround or affixed to the ground!
how can it be explained?

Glamdring

I reckon the "and/or" bit is your answer. In an ATC environment the radar only provides a range and azimuth.

stopbar

PAR provides azimuth and elevation for a precision talk down. Also the old Type 82 radar as used at eastern radar and others had something known as stacked beams from which you were able to use and compare elevation(altitude) and provide separation of aircraft based on this information from your height finder. ie the target aircraft did not have to have SSR for the ATCO to provide a vertical separation provided both your aircraft and the unknown were able to provide a valid height from the radar system and they were different by at least 5000ft!! I believe this was because the radar was originally designed as a tracking radar for the bloodhound air ground missile.

Diaz

khashyatc

don't u think that if in the definition of radar, instead of ELEVATION, LEVEL had been used, it was more correct?

12caps

Well how will this be explained ?:
"Elevation:The vertical distance of a point or a level, on or affixed to the surface of the earth, measured from mean sea level."
and
"Level: A generic term relating to the vertical position of an aircraft in flight and meaning variously, height,altitude or flight level."

How can level (vertical position of an aircraft in flight) be on or affixed to the surface of the earth ?