Definition
A printer used in air traffic control facilities to produce flight progress strips — small paper strips containing key flight data such as call sign, aircraft type, route, altitude, and times — which controllers use to track and manage individual flights.
Plain English
A specialized printer in ATC facilities that prints out small paper slips with flight details on them, so controllers can keep track of each aircraft they are working.
Context Anchor
Seen in air traffic control equipment discussions, facility status notes, and acronym lists.
Why Pilots Care
When pilots file a flight plan or request a clearance, the resulting flight progress strip — printed by the FSP — is what the controller physically references while handling the flight. Knowing this helps pilots understand why accurate flight plan information matters.
Example Sentence 1
When the flight plan was activated, the FSP in the tower cab printed a strip for the controller working ground control.
Example Sentence 2
When the routing changed, the FSP quickly printed a new strip with the updated information.