Definition
A radar beacon slash displayed by an air traffic controller's radar indicator as a means of identifying a particular aircraft target on the radar display. It is the controller's own symbol used for identification, distinct from the slash symbols generated by aircraft transponder returns.
Plain English
A short line-shaped mark that a controller places on their radar screen to point out and keep track of a specific aircraft.
Context Anchor
Used in air traffic control radar-display descriptions, not normally something a pilot sees in the cockpit.
Derivation
Slash' refers to the short diagonal line shape the symbol takes on the radar display. 'Control' identifies it as belonging to the controller, distinguishing it from the slash returns produced automatically by aircraft transponders.
Why Pilots Care
Correctly interpreting the slash prevents confusion between two possible courses of action.
Intuition Check
Do not read this as a punctuation mark in a clearance or radio call. In this FAA context, it means a radar-screen symbol that shows an aircraft’s position.
Example Sentence 1
The controller used a control slash to mark the target before issuing a vector.
Example Sentence 2
When given 'climb and maintain one zero thousand slash one two thousand,' the pilot chose the lower altitude.