Definition
A status granted by air traffic control that moves an aircraft ahead of other traffic for landing. It is given when the pilot reports an urgent or distress condition that requires getting on the ground promptly, but it is not the same as a full declared emergency. ATC adjusts sequencing, spacing, and routing to deliver the aircraft to the runway as quickly as practical.
Plain English
You get to land before the other aircraft in line because something is wrong and you need to be on the ground sooner rather than later.
Context Anchor
Used during emergency handling, especially when a pilot tells air traffic control that the aircraft needs to land without normal delay.
Derivation
Priority comes from the Latin word prior, meaning “earlier” or “before.” In this phrase, it means the aircraft is handled before other traffic for landing.
Why Pilots Care
It shortens the time to reach the runway and reduces pilot workload during a critical situation.
Intuition Check
Priority does not mean an instant or guaranteed landing. It means the aircraft is given landing precedence over other traffic because the situation is urgent.
Example Sentence 1
With a rough-running engine and oil pressure dropping, the pilot requested priority to land at the nearest suitable airport.
Example Sentence 2
The tower granted the aircraft priority to land on runway 18 left because of the hydraulic failure.