Originally Posted by
Dan Dare
I believe London FIR have a radar feed available to them on the wings these days, but they are not a radar service, so no identification nor separation services are available. Why have it then? I cant remember, but I guess something to do with aiding visualising for FIR charges to get clearances and coordinations in good time. Maybe a hint to them that an FIR squawk is nearing a controlled airspace boundary?
No doubt a real FISO will be along shortly to give the full story.
London Info have had a radar display next to their suite since about 2007, possibly earlier, however it is filtered so that only 1177 squawks will show and it covers the whole of the UK up to the border with Scottish airspace and the Area FISOs are not licensed to provide radar sevices using it.
May be different now but when I visited in early 2008, it was positioned some distance from the FISO and the FISO had to leave their operational position to go and look at it if it was reported that an aircraft on their squawk was infringing.