Definition
A descriptor used by ATC to indicate that a service, separation, route, approach, or procedure is being provided without the use of radar. It signals that controllers are managing aircraft based on pilot position reports, time, altitude, and route assignments rather than radar returns.
Plain English
It means ATC is handling the flight without watching it on radar, so they rely on what pilots tell them about where they are.
Context Anchor
Seen in air traffic control procedures, especially in areas or situations where radar coverage is not available or not being used.
Derivation
The prefix 'non-' simply means 'not,' so 'nonradar' literally means 'not using radar.' The term is included as a single word because the FAA uses it as a fixed label for an entire category of services and procedures, not just a casual negation.
Why Pilots Care
Nonradar procedures require stricter separation distances and more frequent position reports, increasing pilot workload and affecting routing options.
Intuition Check
Nonradar does not mean “no air traffic control” or “no radio contact.” It means air traffic control is not using radar or similar screen-based tracking to provide the service.
Example Sentence 1
Once the flight crossed the coastline, it entered a nonradar environment and began making position reports over each oceanic waypoint.
Example Sentence 2
The flight plan included nonradar routing through the remote mountain area with no coverage.