What should you do if an echo appears near the edge of the radar screen?

What should you do if an echo appears near the edge of the radar screen?

• A. Confirm actual range by switching to a closer range scale or rechecking the position.
• B. Ignore the echo.
• C. Assume it's a land echo and adjust course.
• D. Immediately reduce radar power.

Answer: (B)

Echoes at the outer edge are suspicious because the display’s reliability drops at the limits of the range you’re viewing. The best step is to confirm the range by switching to a closer range scale or by rechecking your position. When you view the echo on a smaller scale, you can determine its true distance more accurately and compare it with your latest location and chart information. This helps you distinguish a real target from a display artifact or clutter. Ignoring the echo or changing course or radar power based on an uncertain edge echo doesn’t address the potential range ambiguity and could lead to unsafe decisions.

Echoes at the outer edge are suspicious because the display’s reliability drops at the limits of the range you’re viewing. The best step is to confirm the range by switching to a closer range scale or by rechecking your position. When you view the echo on a smaller scale, you can determine its true distance more accurately and compare it with your latest location and chart information. This helps you distinguish a real target from a display artifact or clutter. Ignoring the echo or changing course or radar power based on an uncertain edge echo doesn’t address the potential range ambiguity and could lead to unsafe decisions.