Positive radar control

[A319-100]

Here is the question. What is meant exactly by "positive radar control". It is listed in our company manuals as a reason to be able to descend below MSA.

regards

[grizzled]

Hey A319...

Your question would be better placed on the ATC forum -- and would get a lot of answers quickly.

Though it depends somewhat on where in the world you are talking about, the answer is generally this: If you are "positively identified", and being provided radar service in controlled airspace, the controller can issue you atlitudes lower than those you have displayed as safe altitudes on your own charts and/or displays. The reason (primarily) is that minimum radar vectoring altitudes, for example, are flight checked to a more precise standard (meaning no obstacles within a smaller horizontal area).

Hope that helps a bit...

[Empty Cruise]

...could mean a lot of things - but best to assume that it only means radar control to separate aircraft. If you assume that the ATCO is providing terrain separation when he's not, you could be spending your beer money on tea bags and ginger nuts - innit?