Definition
An air traffic control system component used to enter flight plan data into the computer system and to print flight progress strips and related flight information at controller positions.
Plain English
The setup controllers use to type flight plan details into their computer and to print the paper strips that show each flight's information.
Context Anchor
Seen in FAA acronym lists, facility references, and air traffic control system discussions; it is not normally something a pilot operates in the cockpit.
Why Pilots Care
When you file a flight plan, the data you provide is processed through systems like FDEP and turned into the printed strips controllers use to track your flight. Knowing this helps you understand why accurate filing matters and why your details show up on controller screens and strips along your route.
Intuition Check
FDEP does not mean the pilot must enter or print flight data in the airplane. It refers to an air traffic control data function used on the facility side.
Example Sentence 1
After the pilot filed the IFR flight plan, the data passed through the FDEP and printed as a flight progress strip at the controller's position.
Example Sentence 2
Updated FDEP printouts were placed in the flight progress strips for the sector.