Definition
A long-range ground-based radar used by Air Route Traffic Control Centers (ARTCCs) to detect and track aircraft flying en route between terminal areas. ARSR provides position and, when paired with secondary surveillance equipment, identity and altitude information across large blocks of airspace, typically out to about 200 nautical miles.
Plain English
A powerful radar that watches aircraft as they fly the long stretches between airports, so controllers at en route centers can see where everyone is and keep them safely apart.
Context Anchor
Seen in instrument flying and air traffic control discussions about radar coverage, en route control, and aircraft position monitoring.
Derivation
"Air route" refers to the en route phase of flight (between terminal areas), and "surveillance radar" means a radar used to watch and track. Together: the radar that watches aircraft while they are flying the en route portion of their journey.
Why Pilots Care
Maintains continuous radar contact for safe aircraft separation on cross-country and remote flights.
Intuition Check
Do not think of ARSR as a radar display in the cockpit or as weather radar. It is a ground-based air traffic control radar used to watch aircraft positions over long distances.
Example Sentence 1
Once clear of the terminal area, the flight was tracked by ARSR as the center controller issued a direct routing.
Example Sentence 2
Controllers used air route surveillance radar to monitor traffic along the jet routes.