Definition
A method of tracking aircraft using equipment located on the ground, such as radar antennas or ADS-B receivers, which detect aircraft positions and feed that information to air traffic controllers.
Plain English
Air traffic controllers watching aircraft using equipment on the ground rather than from satellites or from the aircraft itself.
Context Anchor
Seen in NextGen discussions that compare older air traffic control tracking methods with newer satellite-supported systems.
Why Pilots Care
Ground-based surveillance has gaps in remote or mountainous regions, limiting service and prompting the shift to satellite systems for wider, more reliable tracking.
Grounding Statement
Picture a fixed antenna on the ground detecting aircraft within its coverage area and sending that information to air traffic control.
Intuition Check
Do not read “surveillance” here as spying on people. In this context, it means tracking aircraft position and movement for air traffic control. “Ground-based” means the tracking equipment is installed on the earth, not in space or only in the aircraft.
Example Sentence 1
In remote areas, ground-based surveillance is limited, so controllers may rely on pilot position reports instead.
Example Sentence 2
In areas without reliable ground-based surveillance, pilots may receive vectors only when within radar range.