Definition
A position report transmitted by a pilot to ATC giving the aircraft's present location, time over that location, altitude, and the next reporting point with estimated time of arrival, used by controllers to track the flight's progress along its route.
Plain English
A short radio call where the pilot tells ATC where they are right now, what time they got there, how high they are, and where they're heading next.
Context Anchor
Used in communication with air traffic control, especially when ATC needs updates on an aircraft’s position along a route.
Derivation
Progress comes from a Latin word meaning “to go forward.” Report means “to carry information back.” Together, the term points to carrying back information about how far the flight has gone along its route.
Why Pilots Care
Keeps controllers aware of the aircraft's location so they can maintain proper separation from other traffic and issue accurate instructions or advisories.
Intuition Check
A progress report is not a training report or a performance review. In ATC use, it is an update from the aircraft about its position and movement along the route.
Example Sentence 1
"Center, Cessna Three-Four-Alpha, progress report: KEMPR at one-five, level seven thousand, estimating BIXBY at three-zero."
Example Sentence 2
ATC asked for a progress report including estimated time of arrival at the destination airport.