When NOTAMs indicate radar outages, what should operators do?

• A. Ignore them.
• B. Shut down all operations.
• C. Only rely on manual weather observations.
• D. Implement contingency procedures and use alternative sensors.

Answer: (D)

When radar data isn’t available, safety depends on switching to procedures that don’t rely on real-time radar surveillance while still keeping aircraft properly separated. This means implementing contingency procedures and using any available alternative sensors to maintain situational awareness. Contingency procedures typically involve procedural separation based on routes, altitudes, and time intervals, plus increased coordination with adjacent sectors, holding patterns, and routing adjustments as needed. Alternative sensors can include secondary surveillance data (SSR), ADS-B, or data from other facilities, as well as any other non-radar surveillance tools your system uses, to keep track of aircraft positions. The goal is to continue safe operations and orderly traffic flow until radar is back online. Ignoring the NOTAM or shutting down is not appropriate, and relying only on manual weather observations would not provide the necessary surveillance for separation.