Air Route Surveillance Radar (ARSR) is primarily used by which facility to detect and display an aircraft's position while en route?

• A. ARTCC
• B. Approach control
• C. Tower
• D. Ground radar

Answer: (A)

ARSR is a long-range radar system designed to detect and display aircraft positions across the en route airspace. This surveillance is what Air Route Traffic Control Centers (ARTCC) use to monitor and separate aircraft on their way between airports, handing off traffic as needed along the routes. The terminal area around airports—handled by approach control—uses different radar setups for arrivals and departures near the field, while towers manage local ground and airspace operations at the airport, and ground radar covers surface movement. Because ARSR supports wide-area, en route surveillance, it’s the ARTCC that primarily uses it.