Definition
A radar point out is an action taken by one air traffic controller to transfer radar identification of an aircraft to another controller when that aircraft will, or may, enter the airspace or protected airspace of another controller, and radio communications will not be transferred. The receiving controller acknowledges the point out and assumes responsibility for separation of the aircraft from other traffic in their airspace, while the transferring controller retains radio communications.
Plain English
When a controller's aircraft is going to clip into another controller's airspace, the first controller flags the aircraft on radar to the second controller. The second controller agrees to keep that aircraft separated from their own traffic, but the pilot keeps talking to the original controller the whole time.
Context Anchor
Used in air traffic control coordination, especially when an aircraft is near the boundary of another controller’s airspace but the pilot is not being handed off to that controller.
Derivation
The phrase comes from the literal act of one controller pointing out an aircraft's radar target to another controller — historically by gesturing at a radar scope. The plain phrase stuck even after the process became electronic.
Why Pilots Care
It prevents loss of separation when aircraft move between controllers or sectors.
Intuition Check
POINT OUT does not mean the pilot is being asked to point something out. In this FAA meaning, it is controller-to-controller radar coordination for identifying an aircraft without transferring radio contact.
Example Sentence 1
The approach controller did a point out to the adjacent center sector because the aircraft would briefly cross into their airspace before turning back on course.
Example Sentence 2
During the split, the radar controller made point outs for three aircraft near the sector boundary.