Definition 1 of 2
Definition
The original estimated time of arrival adjusted by Air Traffic Control to account for traffic management delays, used to meter aircraft into a destination airport or fix at a specific time.
Plain English
A specific time that ATC tells you to arrive at a point. Instead of just getting there as fast as you can, you adjust your speed or routing so you cross that point exactly when ATC has scheduled you.
Context Anchor
Seen in traffic management, arrival planning, and ATC flow-control situations, especially when many aircraft are headed toward the same airport or area.
Derivation
The word 'controlled' here doesn't mean piloted -- it means managed or scheduled by ATC. So a 'controlled time of arrival' is an arrival time that ATC has set for you, rather than one you've calculated yourself.
Why Pilots Care
It keeps aircraft safely separated, reduces the need for holding, and helps the airport handle more arrivals smoothly without congestion.
Intuition Check
Do not read controlled as meaning the pilot has lost control of the airplane. Here, controlled means the arrival time is managed as part of the traffic plan.
Example Sentence 1
Center issued us a controlled time of arrival of 1745Z over the arrival fix, so we reduced speed to make the slot.
Example Sentence 2
By adjusting speed to meet the controlled time of arrival, the flight avoided a hold and landed without further delay.