Definition
A backup radar display system used by air traffic controllers that provides a simplified, direct feed of primary and secondary radar data when the main automated radar processing system fails or is taken offline. DARC bypasses the full computer processing of the main system and presents controllers with a basic radar picture so that traffic separation can continue.
Plain English
A backup radar display that controllers fall back on when their main radar computer system goes down, so they can still see aircraft and keep them apart safely.
Context Anchor
Seen in FAA acronym lists and in discussions of air traffic control radar systems, especially backup or outage situations.
Derivation
Direct access means controllers get the radar data straight from the radar feed, without waiting for the main processing computer to handle it. Channel here refers to the dedicated pathway that carries that backup feed to the controller's scope.
Why Pilots Care
Provides controllers immediate, unfiltered radar information essential for aircraft separation and traffic management.
Intuition Check
DARC does not mean the pilot has direct access to radar in the cockpit. It refers to an air traffic control radar data path used by controllers.
Example Sentence 1
When the main radar processing system went offline, the facility switched to DARC to maintain basic radar coverage.
Example Sentence 2
When the primary DARC went offline, the facility switched to the backup radar channel.