12/2/21 

Pilot/Controller Glossary 

1. 

In response to a handoff or point out, 

2. 

In anticipation of a handoff or point out, or 

3. 

In conjunction with a request for control of an 

aircraft. 

b. 

A term used by ATC to refer to one or more 

aircraft. 

TRAFFIC ADVISORIES

−

 Advisories issued to alert 

pilots to other known or observed air traffic which 
may be in such proximity to the position or intended 
route of flight of their aircraft to warrant their 
attention. Such advisories may be based on: 

a. 

Visual observation. 

b. 

Observation of radar identified and nonidenti-

fied aircraft targets on an ATC radar display, or 

c. 

Verbal reports from pilots or other facilities. 

Note 1: The word “traffic” followed by additional 

information, if known, is used to provide such 
advisories; e.g., “Traffic, 2 o’clock, one zero miles, 
southbound, eight thousand.” 

Note 2: Traffic advisory service will be provided to 

the extent possible depending on higher priority 
duties of the controller or other limitations; e.g., 
radar limitations, volume of traffic, frequency 
congestion, or controller workload. Radar/ 
nonradar traffic advisories do not relieve the pilot 
of his/her responsibility to see and avoid other 
aircraft. Pilots are cautioned that there are many 
times when the controller is not able to give traffic 
advisories concerning all traffic in the aircraft’s 
proximity; in other words, when a pilot requests or 
is receiving traffic advisories, he/she should not 
assume that all traffic will be issued. 

(Refer to AIM.) 

TRAFFIC ALERT (aircraft call sign), TURN 
(left/right) IMMEDIATELY, (climb/descend) AND 
MAINTAIN (altitude). 

(See SAFETY ALERT.) 

TRAFFIC ALERT AND COLLISION AVOID-
ANCE SYSTEM (TCAS)

−

 An airborne collision 

avoidance system based on radar beacon signals 
which operates independent of ground-based equip-
ment. TCAS-I generates traffic advisories only. 
TCAS-II generates traffic advisories, and resolution 
(collision avoidance) advisories in the vertical plane. 

TRAFFIC INFORMATION

−

 

(See TRAFFIC ADVISORIES.) 

TRAFFIC INFORMATION SERVICE

−

BROAD-

CAST (TIS

−

B)

−

 The broadcast of ATC derived 

traffic information to ADS

−

B equipped (1090ES or 

UAT) aircraft. The source of this traffic information 
is derived from ground

−

based air traffic surveillance 

sensors, typically from radar targets. TIS

−

B service 

will be available throughout the NAS where there are 
both adequate surveillance coverage (radar) and 
adequate broadcast coverage from ADS

−

B ground 

stations. Loss of TIS

−

B will occur when an aircraft 

enters an area not covered by the GBT network. If this 
occurs in an area with adequate surveillance coverage 
(radar), nearby aircraft that remain within the 
adequate broadcast coverage (ADS

−

B) area will view 

the first aircraft. TIS

−

B may continue when an 

aircraft enters an area with inadequate surveillance 
coverage (radar); nearby aircraft that remain within 
the adequate broadcast coverage (ADS

−

B) area will 

not view the first aircraft. 

TRAFFIC IN SIGHT

−

 Used by pilots to inform a 

controller that previously issued traffic is in sight. 

(See NEGATIVE CONTACT.) 
(See TRAFFIC ADVISORIES.) 

TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT INITIATIVE (TMI)

−

 

Tools used to manage demand with capacity in the 
National Airspace System (NAS.) TMIs can be used 
to manage NAS resources (e.g., airports, sectors, 
airspace) or to increase the efficiency of the 
operation. TMIs can be either tactical (i.e., short 
term) or strategic (i.e., long term), depending on the 
type of TMI and the operational need. 

TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PROGRAM ALERT

−

 

A term used in a Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) 
issued in conjunction with a special traffic 
management program to alert pilots to the existence 
of the program and to refer them to a special traffic 
management program advisory message for program 
details. The contraction TMPA is used in NOTAM 
text. 

TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT UNIT

−

 The entity in 

ARTCCs and designated terminals directly involved 
in the active management of facility traffic. Usually 
under the direct supervision of an assistant manager 
for traffic management. 

TRAFFIC NO FACTOR

−

 Indicates that the traffic 

described in a previously issued traffic advisory is no 
factor. 

TRAFFIC NO LONGER OBSERVED

−

 Indicates 

that the traffic described in a previously issued traffic 
advisory is no longer depicted on radar, but may still 
be a factor. 

PCG T

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