What is the primary purpose of ASDE in airport operations?

• A. To detect weather patterns around weather systems.
• B. To detect all principal features and traffic on the airport surface and display it to the control tower to augment observation.
• C. To manage fuel consumption.
• D. To pilot autopilots.

Answer: (B)

ASDE is all about surface surveillance. Its primary purpose is to detect all principal features and traffic on the airport surface—aircraft and ground vehicles on taxiways and runways—and display their locations to the control tower to augment the controllers’ observation. This real-time picture helps prevent runway incursions and improves safety and coordination, especially in low visibility or busy taxi operations. It’s not used for detecting weather, managing fuel, or piloting aircraft systems, so those functions fall to other systems and procedures.