Definition
In ATC and aeronautical information usage, a term indicating that a data tag, target, or item on a controller's display has been correlated with a specific aircraft's flight plan information, so the system links the radar return to that flight.
Plain English
When something is 'associated,' it has been matched up with a known flight. The radar blip and the flight plan are joined together, so the controller sees them as one item rather than two unrelated things.
Context Anchor
Seen in air traffic control and radar display discussions, especially when describing whether a radar target is matched to an aircraft’s identification or flight plan.
Derivation
From Latin associare, meaning 'to join or unite with.' In ATC, it carries that same sense: a target on the scope has been joined with the matching flight plan data.
Why Pilots Care
When a target is associated correctly, ATC has a clearer picture of which aircraft is which, which helps reduce confusion in busy airspace.
Intuition Check
Do not read associated here as just “related in some general way.” In this context, it means a specific radar target is matched to specific aircraft information on an ATC display.
Example Sentence 1
Once the data block became associated with the aircraft, the controller could see the call sign and altitude next to the radar return.
Example Sentence 2
Pilots should verify the associated navaids listed for the runway before briefing the approach.