Definition
A printed or electronic record used by air traffic controllers to track an individual flight as it moves through their area of responsibility. It contains identifying information about the flight, including call sign, aircraft type, route, altitude, and other clearance details, and is updated by the controller as the flight progresses.
Plain English
A small slip of paper or its electronic equivalent that controllers use to keep track of one specific flight. It lists the key facts about that flight — who it is, what it's flying, where it's going, and at what altitude — and the controller marks it up as the flight moves along.
Context Anchor
Seen in air traffic control and instrument flight discussions, especially when explaining how controllers organize traffic and apply separation standards.
Derivation
The name describes the function: a 'strip' (a narrow piece of paper) that records the 'progress' of a 'flight.' Originally these were literal paper strips slotted into holders on the controller's console, and the term carried over even as many facilities moved to electronic displays.
Why Pilots Care
Accurate strips let controllers issue timely clearances and avoid conflicts, directly supporting safe flight through busy airspace.
Analogy
It is like a short job card for one aircraft. The controller can glance at it and see the main facts needed to manage that flight.
Intuition Check
Do not read “strip” as part of the airplane or runway. A flight progress strip is a controller’s record for a flight, not a physical part of the aircraft or airport surface.
Example Sentence 1
When the aircraft was handed off to the next sector, the controller passed along the flight progress strip with the updated altitude noted.
Example Sentence 2
Electronic flight progress strips let the sector team see route changes instantly during high traffic.