// Ground surveillance
Surface movement radar and A-SMGCS
Does Prestwick have surface movement radar or A-SMGCS? What those systems do, and how Prestwick handles parts of the airfield the tower can’t see.
What it is
- Surface movement radar (SMR) shows aircraft and vehicles on the runways and taxiways. A-SMGCS (advanced surface movement guidance and control) fuses SMR with multilateration and ADS-B, labels every target and can warn of runway incursions.
How controllers use it
- Where fitted, SMR is used to monitor movements, confirm an aircraft is lined up on the correct runway, confirm the runway is clear and the take-off roll has started, switch taxiway lighting and help emergency vehicles (CAP 493 S2 Ch 1 paras 10G/10H).
At Prestwick
- No public source confirms an SMR or A-SMGCS at Prestwick.
- The AIP notes limited line of sight from ATC to Aprons A, B, G, H and part of taxiway S, so ATC may ask for extra position reports. A dual runway hold at runway 02/20 is marked as a hotspot.
Typical UK practice: Controllers at towers without SMR rely on the view, binoculars, position reports and, at night, the stop bars and lighting.
// Through the eras
| Era | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1930s–40s | Not in use | No surface radar; the view and binoculars. |
| 1950s–60s | Not in use | Not found at Prestwick. |
| 1980s–90s | Not known | Not found at Prestwick. |
| Modern | Not known | No public source confirms SMR or A-SMGCS. |