3. At tower controlled airports where RADAR coverage does not exist to within 1/2
mile of the end of the runway, arriving aircraft shall be informed when RADAR
service is terminated
TERMINAL An arriving VFR aircraft receiving RADAR service to a tower-controlled
airport within Class B airspace, Class C airspace, TRSA, or where basic RADAR
service is provided has landed, or to all other airports, is instructed to change to tower
or advisory frequency.
Transfer of RADAR Identification
To provide continuous RADAR service to an aircraft and facilitate a safe, orderly, and
expeditious flow of traffic, it is often necessary to transfer RADAR identification of an
aircraft from one controller to another. This section describes the terms, methods, and
responsibilities associated with this task. Interfacility and intrafacility transfers of RADAR
identification shall be accomplished in all areas of RADAR surveillance except where it
is not operationally feasible. Where such constraints exist, they shall be:
Covered in letters of agreement which clearly state that control will not be based
upon a RADAR handoff
Coordinated by the transferring and receiving controllers for a specified period of
time
Terms
HANDOFF An action taken to transfer the RADAR identification of an aircraft from one
controller to another controller if the aircraft will enter the receiving controller's airspace
and radio communications with the aircraft will be transferred
RADAR CONTACT The term used to inform the controller initiating a handoff that the
aircraft is identified and approval is granted for the aircraft to enter the receiving
controller's airspace
POINT OUT A physical or automated action taken by a controller to transfer the
RADAR identification of an aircraft to another controller if the aircraft will or may enter
the airspace or protected airspace of another controller and radio communications will
not be transferred
POINT OUT APPROVED The term used to inform the controller initiating a point out
that the aircraft is identified and that approval is granted for the aircraft to enter the
receiving controller's airspace, as coordinated, without a communications transfer or the
appropriate automated system response
TRAFFIC A term used to transfer RADAR identification of an aircraft to another
controller for the purpose of coordinating separation action. Traffic is normally issued:
In response to a handoff or point out
In anticipation of a handoff or point out
In conjunction with a request for control of an aircraft
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