The Plains FAA Radar Site

 (1980-Active) - A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Long Range Radar (LRR) site first established in 1980 near The Plains, Fauquier County, Virginia. The site is used to identify and track military and civilian aircraft movements within a 200-mile radius and to provide air-ground radio communication with those aircraft. Assigned a SAGE System ID of Z-318, a JSS ID of J-50, and an FAA ID of QPL. Active FAA Radar Site.

History
This site became an FAA radar site in January 1980, furnishing radar track data to the FAA ARTCCs and to USAF Direction Centers. The site is located on a government-owned 2.87-acre lot along the Bull Run Mountain Road.

The official FAA ARSR-3 commissioning date was said to be 1 Mar 1982. The site was brought into the JSS System as one of five "data-tied" sites (without height-finder or mode 4 capability). The initial FAA ARSR-3 search radar remained in operation until it was modified to become a CARSR radar with a 9200S Antenna.

Current Status
Active FAA facility near The Plains in Fauquier County, Virginia.

{| See Also:
 * Washington DC ARTCC
 * JSS System
 * FAA Air Route Traffic Control Centers
 * US Radar Sets

Sources:


 * , page 59.

Links:
 * Radomes - The Plains FAA Radar Site
 * Wikipedia - Joint Surveillance System