Plain English Meaning
A list of letters and numbers on the controller's screen that shows which aircraft are arriving and which are departing, with the basic facts the controller needs about each one.
Full Definition
A text-based list shown on a controller's radar display that summarizes inbound and outbound aircraft, typically including identification, type, assigned altitude, and other flight data, presented alongside the radar picture to help the controller manage traffic flow.
Context Anchor
Seen in FAA explanations of air traffic control radar displays, especially the ARTS III / DBRITE display shown in the Instrument Flying Handbook.
Derivation
“Tabular” comes from Latin “tabula,” meaning a board, tablet, or table. Here it means the information is arranged like a table, rather than shown only as moving on a radar screen.