4/20/23 

Pilot/Controller Glossary 

TEMPORARY FLIGHT RESTRICTION (TFR)

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 A TFR is a regulatory action issued by the FAA via the U.S. 

NOTAM System, under the authority of United States Code, Title 49. TFRs are issued within the sovereign 

airspace of the United States and its territories to restrict certain aircraft from operating within a defined area 

on a temporary basis to protect persons or property in the air or on the ground. While not all inclusive, TFRs 

may be issued for disaster or hazard situations such as: toxic gas leaks or spills, fumes from flammable agents, 

aircraft accident/incident sites, aviation or ground resources engaged in wildfire suppression, or aircraft relief 

activities following a disaster. TFRs may also be issued in support of VIP movements, for reasons of national 

security; or when determined necessary for the management of air traffic in the vicinity of aerial demonstrations 

or major sporting events. NAS users or other interested parties should contact a FSS for TFR information. 

Additionally, TFR information can be found in automated briefings, NOTAM publications, and on the internet 

at http://www.faa.gov. The FAA also distributes TFR information to aviation user groups for further 

dissemination. 
TERMINAL AREA

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 A general term used to describe airspace in which approach control service or airport traffic 

control service is provided. 
TERMINAL AREA FACILITY

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 A facility providing air traffic control service for arriving and departing IFR, 

VFR, Special VFR, and on occasion en route aircraft. 

(See APPROACH CONTROL FACILITY.) 
(See TOWER.) 

TERMINAL AUTOMATION SYSTEMS (TAS)

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TAS is used to identify the numerous automated tracking 

systems including STARS and MEARTS. 
TERMINAL DATA LINK SYSTEM (TDLS)

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 A system that provides Digital Automatic Terminal Information 

Service (D

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ATIS) both on a specified radio frequency and also, for subscribers, in a text message via data link 

to the cockpit or to a gate printer. TDLS also provides Pre

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departure Clearances (PDC), at selected airports, to 

subscribers, through a service provider, in text to the cockpit or to a gate printer. In addition, TDLS will emulate 

the Flight Data Input/Output (FDIO) information within the control tower. 
TERMINAL FLIGHT DATA MANAGER (TFDM)

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An integrated tower flight data automation system to 

provide improved airport surface and terminal airspace management. TFDM enhances traffic flow management 

data integration with Time

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Based Flow Management (TBFM) and Traffic Flow Management System (TFMS) 

to enable airlines, controllers, and airports to share and exchange real

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time data. This improves surface traffic 

management and enhances capabilities of TFMS and TBFM. TFDM assists the Tower personnel with surface 

Traffic Flow Management (TFM) and Collaborative Decision Making (CDM) and enables a fundamental change 

in the Towers from a local airport

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specific operation to a NAS

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connected metering operation. The single 

platform consolidates multiple Tower automation systems, including: Departure Spacing Program (DSP), 

Airport Resource Management Tool (ARMT), Electronic Flight Strip Transfer System (EFSTS), and Surface 

Movement Advisor (SMA). TFDM data, integrated with other FAA systems such as TBFM and TFMS, allows 

airlines, controllers, and airports to manage the flow of aircraft more efficiently through all phases of flight from 

departure to arrival gate. 
TERMINAL RADAR SERVICE AREA

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 Airspace surrounding designated airports wherein ATC provides 

radar vectoring, sequencing, and separation on a full-time basis for all IFR and participating VFR aircraft. The 

AIM contains an explanation of TRSA. TRSAs are depicted on VFR aeronautical charts. Pilot participation is 

urged but is not mandatory. 
TERMINAL SEQUENCING AND SPACING (TSAS)

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 Extends scheduling and metering capabilities into the 

terminal area and provides metering automation tools to terminal controllers and terminal traffic management 

personnel. Those controllers and traffic management personnel become active participants in time

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based 

metering operations as they work to deliver aircraft accurately to Constraint Satisfaction Points within terminal 

airspace to include the runway in accordance with scheduled times at those points. Terminal controllers are better 

able to utilize efficient flight paths, such as Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) that require a 

Navigational Specification (NavSpec) of RNP APCH with Radius

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to

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Fix (RF) legs, or Advanced RNP 

PCG T

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