Pilot/Controller Glossary

4/3/14

PCG T−6

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− An airborne collision avoidance

system based on radar beacon signals which operates

independent of ground-based equipment. TCAS-I

generates traffic advisories only. TCAS-II generates

traffic advisories, and resolution (collision avoid-

ance) advisories in the vertical plane.
TRAFFIC INFORMATION−

(See TRAFFIC ADVISORIES.)

TRAFFIC INFORMATION SERVICE−

BROADCAST (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 ADVISOR (TMA)− A

computerized tool which assists Traffic Management

Coordinators to efficiently schedule arrival traffic to

a metered airport, by calculating meter fix times and

delays then sending that information to the sector

controllers.
TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PROGRAM ALERT−

A term used in a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued

in conjunction with a special traffic management

program to alert pilots to the existence of the program

and to refer them to either the Notices to Airmen

publication or a special traffic management program

advisory message for program details. The contrac-

tion 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.
TRAFFIC PATTERN− The traffic flow that is

prescribed for aircraft landing at, taxiing on, or taking

off from an airport. The components of a typical

traffic pattern are upwind leg, crosswind leg,

downwind leg, base leg, and final approach.

a.

Upwind Leg− A flight path parallel to the

landing runway in the direction of landing.