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Old June 12th 09, 04:31 AM posted to rec.aviation.piloting
Jackie
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Posts: 7
Default ATC Radar Question

Jim Logajan wrote:
Jackie wrote:
If an aircraft is at 18,000 ft (approx 3 nm) and 3 nm away from the
radar antenna, as seen on a map, how does the radar correct for slant
distance when distance is displayed (e.g. using concentric circle
distance markers on the scope or relative to a known distance, such as
a marker on the display)?


Without altitude information from the pilot or a Mode C transponder, the
radar system can't extract the horizontal distance from the slant distance.
Where did you read that their systems correct for altitude without Mode C
transponders? If they could do that then they wouldn't have ever needed the
transponders to report altitude.


So if a pilot turns his Mode C from off to on, does the radar then
correct the distance plotted (less distance from the antenna) based on
the altitude reported?