Plain English Meaning

A specific point in the sky where ATC times the arrival of each aircraft. Controllers slow down or reroute aircraft on the way in so each one passes this point at a planned moment, keeping the flow into a busy airport orderly.

Full Definition

A designated point along an arrival route, typically located at the entry to terminal airspace, at which arriving aircraft are sequenced and spaced in time so they cross it at assigned intervals. Air traffic control issues speed adjustments, vectors, or holding instructions upstream of this point to ensure aircraft cross it at the time required to meet the arrival rate at the destination airport.

Context Anchor

Pilots may see or hear this term in arrival planning, air traffic control , and -flow discussions for busy airports.