If beacon range accuracy cannot be verified, what can beacon targets still be used for?

Beacon targets can still be used for traffic information even when their range accuracy cannot be verified. In air traffic management, traffic information is crucial for pilots and air traffic controllers to maintain awareness of surrounding aircraft and ensure safe operations in the airspace.

While precise range information is important for separation and other operational functions, the primary purpose of traffic information is to provide situational awareness about the presence and relative positioning of other aircraft. This can be conveyed through the identification of targets on radar displays, allowing operators to track the movement and proximity of other aircraft, which is vital for safety, especially in busy air traffic scenarios.

In contrast, separation of aircraft, landing clearance, and departure sequencing all require a higher level of accuracy to ensure safe distances and proper timing, which means that when beacon range accuracy cannot be verified, those functions may not be reliably supported. Hence, relying on beacon targets for traffic information is still valuable, as it aids in overall situational awareness despite the limitations in range accuracy.