Definition
A pre-programmed digital exchange of flight data between Air Traffic Control facilities, used to coordinate the handoff of an aircraft from one controller's airspace to another's without requiring a verbal coordination call between the controllers.
Plain English
A computer-to-computer message that lets one ATC facility pass an aircraft's flight information to the next facility automatically, so the controllers don't have to talk to each other to arrange the handoff.
Context Anchor
Seen in AIM glossary and ATC automation discussions, especially around how controllers coordinate aircraft moving from one area of control to another.
Derivation
Automated' means done by machine without human action each time. 'Information Transfer' simply means moving data from one place to another. Together: data moved between ATC computers without a controller having to make a phone or landline call.
Why Pilots Care
It reduces radio congestion and allows faster, more reliable exchange of critical information between controllers.
Intuition Check
Do not read “information transfer” as a radio call from the pilot. In this term, the transfer is mainly an automated ATC system process happening in the background.
Example Sentence 1
Thanks to AIT, the next sector's controller already had our flight details before we checked in on the new frequency.
Example Sentence 2
During busy periods, AIT lets approach control pass arrival information directly to the tower position.