Appendix A Glossary - Cont'd

APPENDIX A

T-6A INSTRUMENT NAVIGATION

RADAR BEACON - A radar system in which the object to be detected is fitted with cooperative

equipment in the form of a radio receiver/transmitter (transponder). Radio pulses transmitted

from the searching transmitter/receiver (interrogator) site are received in the cooperative

equipment and used to trigger a distinctive transmission from the transponder. This latter

transmission, rather than a reflected signal, is then received back at the transmitter/receiver site.

RADAR ENVIRONMENT - An area in which radar service may be provided.

RADAR IDENTIFICATION - The process of ascertaining that a radar target is the radar return

from a particular aircraft.

RADAR VECTOR - A heading issued to an aircraft to provide navigational guidance by radar.

RADIAL - A radial is a magnetic bearing extending from a VOR, VORTAC, or TACAN.

RADIO MAGNETIC INDICATOR - A navigation instrument that indicates both magnetic

heading and magnetic bearing to a selected radio navigation facility.

REPORTING POINT - A specified geographic location in relation to which the position of an

aircraft can be reported.

RUNWAY VISUAL RANGE - The horizontal distance a pilot will see down the runway from

the approach end. RVR is determined with electronic instruments and is reported in hundreds of

feet. RVR, in contrast to prevailing or runway visibility, is based on what a pilot in a moving

aircraft should see looking down the runway. RVR is horizontal visual range (NOT slant range).

SHORT RANGE CLEARANCE - A clearance issued to a departing IFR flight which

authorizes IFR flight to a specific fix short of the destination while ATC facilities are

coordinating and obtaining the complete clearance.

STANDARD TERMINAL ARRIVAL - A preplanned IFR ATC arrival procedure published

for pilot use in graphic and/or textual form. STARs provide transition from the enroute structure

to an outer fix or an instrument approach fix/arrival waypoint in the terminal area.

STATION - A radio navigational aid (see NAVAID).

STEPDOWN FIX - A fix permitting additional descent while on a segment of an instrument

approach. The fix identifies a point at which a controlling obstacle has been safely overflown.

STRAIGHT-IN APPROACH - IFR - An instrument approach wherein final approach is begun

without first having executed a procedure turn. This type of approach is not necessarily

completed with a straight-in landing or made to straight-in landing minimums.

STRAIGHT-IN LANDING - A landing made on a runway aligned within 30 of the FAC

following completion of an instrument approach.

A-6 GLOSSARY