plane tracking

[Lan Ding Gere]

Hi There guys,

Can a plane still be tracked if it's radar or other tracking instruments are switched off

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

Not sure what you mean by "radar or other tracking instruments"?? An aeroplane can be seen on primary radar irrespective of what equipment may be carried on board (excluding, of course, stealth aircraft!). For example, light aircraft with no transponders - and some with no radio - can be easily seen on radar..

[sss]

is someone trying to do some smuggling and doesnt want to be watched?

[Milt]

And at very low level the Police radar does a thing on your car.

[Lan Ding Gere]

Thanks guys.

That's what i meant RADAR and transponders.

So they can still be seen

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

<<So they can still be seen>>

Yes... even gliders and even birds!

[Wycombe]

...and ships, trains and trucks aswell, if in line-of-sight of the radar head

[cortilla]

and nice fluffy clouds

[Wino]

For a while in the USA primary radar coverage (unassisted no transponders required) was considering being dropped or reduced.

9/11 changed all that and the primary radar coverage is being beefed up and suplemented with AWACS.

Cheers
Wino

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

<and nice fluffy clouds>

No - well, not on modern ATC radars!

[380]

what about gliders? do they give a primary return?

[henry crun]

They do indeed 380.

I have tracked many out to over 100 miles from the radar head, older plywood gliders and the newer GRP jobs.

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

<<...and ships, trains and trucks as well, if in line-of-sight of the radar head>>

Only "maybe". Ships would be far to slow - ATC radars have circuitry which eliminates very slow moving echoes. Ships, trains, trucks..... I've only seen such things on Surface Movement Radar where they are supposed to show.

[380]

thx henry

i'll tell all my glider friends to be more careful around CTA boundaries

[earnest]

Can a plane still be tracked if it's radar or other tracking instruments are switched off

If they couldn't we'd be speaking German!

[Jerricho]

Only the other day I was passing traffic information to a little Cessna "slow moving prime target in your 1 o'clock........" The pilot happily informed me they were a flock of geese. I don't think he would have been as happy if he hadn't seen them and flown into them.