Correct, a blip is a blip, but no one is operating with primary radar unless the more sophisticated secondary systems fail. When using the secondary systems, which is hopefully 100.0% of the time, they are looking at flight data tags, essentially "Post It Notes" attached to the primary returns, whose data issues from flight plan data (and manually input for pop-up traffic). Separation standards are driven by the secondary system, using relationships between tagged traffic. - RWM (7N3) -- - R.W. Mann & Company, Inc. >> Airline Industry Analysis Port Washington, NY 11050 >> tel 516-944-0900, fax -7280 mailto:RWM@xxxxxxxxxx >> URL http://www.RWMann.com/ Floridasky@xxxxxxx wrote: > > A radar blip looks exactly the same for 747 and single engine Cessna. Believe > or not flock of migrating geese will appear like an aircraft. In South > Florida controllers call possibel traffic for semi trucks on I 595 on occasion not > know for sure what it is. You can observe ships just off the coast on radar at > times also. They all look an aircarft hit. > > Mike (MIA)