Page:CAB Accident Report, Flying Tiger Line Flight 282.pdf/21

 ATTACHMENT VI

COPY

In Reply

Refer To: AT-500

Mr B. R. Allen Director, Bureau of Safety, B-80

Civil Aeronautics Board

Universal Building

Washington, D. C. 20428

Dear Mr. Allen:

This is in reply to your letter of July 23, 1965, in which you expressed a belief that the term "Radar Contact" is creating in the minds of pilots a false sense of security and that certain limitations pertaining to air traffic service are not clearly understood by them.

Your comment with respect to the use of the term "Radar Contact" is quite timely since we have recently taken action to clarify its use. We would agree that certain radar terms may not have been conveying to the users the fact that radar services would be provided at the discretion of the ATC system and should not be expected in every case. In view of this, we have redefined some of the terms used and they will, as you have suggested, be published in the Airman's Information Manual. Enclosed is a copy of the pertinent terms as they will be defined in a forthcoming issue of AIM.

we trust that publication of these terms and their associated definitions will clarify the subject for pilots and further we believe are responsive to your recommendations. In the event they are not responsive or if we have misconstrued your suggestion, we would welcome an opportunity to discuss the subject further at your convenience.

Your recommendation to prominently display, on appropriate aeronautical charts, areas wherein the provision of radar services may have limitations, would also appear to have some merit. However, there are certain factors, which after further consideration tend to indicate this to be an unwise course of action and even precludes such action. For example, publication of such data could mislead pilots into the belief that certain services will always be provided in the charted area when, in fact, it would only be provided as necessary or required for traffic control purposes. Charting information as to radar coverage would also compromise the security of joint—use radar systems.

In view of the above, we do not believe it would be appropriate to take any further action.

We appreciate your interest in this matter.

Enclosure