In limited circumstances certain tower facilities are able to provide radar services. Here at the LAARTCC the only tower authorized to provide limited radar services is LAX TWR and only while aircraft are operating on the Mini Route. Controllers wishing to simulate radar services must familiarize themselves with radar identification procedures below prior to providing radar services to pilots on the mini route. This section is optional and not required to be certified on LAX TWR or Major Tower.
The below will cover portions of radar identification. It is fully covered in the approach section of the STM. (Most of the below was copied from Radar Identification from the Approach section of the STM)
1. What is radar identification?
According to the pilot and controller glossary, radar identification is “the process of ascertaining that an observed radar target is the radar return from a particular aircraft.” In other words, radar identification is confirmation that an observed target is truly the desired aircraft (or an aircraft at all).
A handoff is a transfer of radar contact and radio communications. In the case of an automated handoff (one received via the radar system), there has been no lapse in radar identification, so there is no need to radar identify that aircraft again.
Example-
N123: “LA TWR, Cessna one two three, one mile south of the Hawthorne Blvd - 405 intersection, two thousand five hundred."
SAN_APP: “Cessna one two three, LA TWR radar contact.”
{Reference: FAAO 7110.65 5-3-2b}
c) Identifying turns
1. A pilot position report is received which assures you that the aircraft is within radar coverage and within your sector.
2. Only one aircraft is observed making these turns.
3. For aircraft operating in accordance with an IFR clearance, you either issue a heading away from an area which will require an increased minimum IFR altitude or have the aircraft climb to the highest minimum altitude in your sector before you issue a heading.
Example-
N123: “Socal approach, Cessna one two three, one zero miles northwest of the Julain VOR, niner thousand five hundred.”
You look at your radar display and you see two targets about 10 miles northwest of JLI, but you are uncertain about which one gave the position report.
SAN_APP: “Cessna 123, Las Vegas approach, turn right 30 degrees for radar identification”
You observe one of them turning while the other remains on its course.
SAN_APP: “Cessna one two three, radar contact, eight miles morthwest of the Julian VOR”
{Reference: FAAO 711.0.65 5-3-2c}
PHRASEOLOGY-
IDENT
Example-
N123: “Socal approach, Cessna one two three, niner thousand five hundred.”
You have not received a position report and thus may not use it to identify the target, you have to use another method such as asking them to ident.
SAN_APP:“Cessna one two three, Socal approach, ident.”
You observe the data block flash.
SAN_APP: “Cessna one two three, radar contact, one zero miles northwest of the Julian VOR.”
{Reference: FAAO 7110.65 5-3-3a}
PHRASEOLOGY-
SQUAWK (code)
Example-
N123: “Socal approach, Cessna one two three, niner thousand five hundred.”
SAN_APP: “Cessna 123, Socal approach, squawk five seven two four.”
You observe the data block change.
SAN_APP: “Cessna one two three, radar contact, one zero miles northwest of the Julian VOR.”
{Reference: FAAO 7110.65 5-3-3b}
PHRASEOLOGY-
SQUAWK STANDBY
followed by
SQUAWK NORMAL
Example-
N123: “Socal approach, Cessna one two three, niner thousand five hundred.”
You have more than one secondary target in your sector but are not sure which one is the Cessna.
SAN_APP: “Cessna one two three, Socal Approach, squawk standby.”
You observe one of the targets lose its information.
SAN_APP: “Cessna one two three, squawk normal.”
You observe the information reappear.
SAN_APP: “Cessna one two three, radar contact, one zero miles northwest of the Julian VOR.”
“{Reference: FAAO 7110.65 5-3-3c}”
“{Reference: FAAO 7110.65 5-3-6}”
Los Angeles Mini Route
As noted above in order to simulate limited radar services for aircraft on the Mini Route, a basic understanding of radar identification is required.
In general at LAX, aircraft transiting the LA Bravo Airspace via the Mini Route will be radar identified by LA TWR prior to entering the LA Bravo airspace and prior to providing the clearance through the Bravo. There are specific VFR reporting points that pilots are encouraged to use when reporting in to LAX TWR that are slightly outside the LAX Bravo Airspace both north and south. Radar services should only include radar seperation from other traffic and generally should not include any other type of radar services. When you radar identify an aircraft, you shoud start track on the target. As soon as the aircraft exits the LA Bravo airspace, radar services should be terminated.