Definition
An air traffic control service in which controllers monitor and track aircraft on radar specifically for security purposes, in coordination with national security agencies. It is used to follow aircraft of security interest and to support the response to potential airborne threats.
Plain English
Air traffic controllers watching an aircraft on radar not for normal traffic separation, but to help keep the country safe — usually working with security or defense agencies.
Context Anchor
Seen in ATC and national security discussions; it is not usually something a pilot requests like normal ATC help.
Why Pilots Care
Pilots must file accurate flight plans and avoid unapproved deviations, as unexplained changes can trigger security investigations or interception.
Intuition Check
ATC Security Tracking does not mean ordinary traffic separation or routine flight following. It means ATC is monitoring an aircraft for a security-related purpose.
Example Sentence 1
When the flight entered restricted airspace near the capital, ATC security tracking ensured the aircraft was monitored continuously.
Example Sentence 2
During preflight briefing the instructor reminded students that ATC Security Tracking remains active even on routine cross-country flights near major cities.