Definition
The process by which an air traffic controller positively identifies a specific aircraft target on the radar display and associates it with a particular flight, after which radar service can be provided to that aircraft.
Plain English
The moment when the controller is sure which blip on the radar screen is your aircraft. Once that's confirmed, they can start tracking you and giving you radar-based instructions.
Context Anchor
You may encounter this term in air traffic control procedures, especially after departure, during radar service, or when a controller needs to confirm which aircraft is yours.
Derivation
Radar comes from “radio detection and ranging,” meaning finding and measuring the position of something by radio signals. Identification comes from words meaning “to make the same,” which fits the idea of matching one radar target with one known aircraft.
Why Pilots Care
Ensures ATC can provide radar services such as traffic advisories and vectors without losing track of your aircraft.
Intuition Check
Do not assume radar identification just means an aircraft appears on radar. It means the controller has confirmed which radar target is your specific aircraft.
Example Sentence 1
After checking in with Approach, the pilot heard 'Cessna 23X, radar contact, three miles west of the airport,' confirming radar identification had been established.
Example Sentence 2
The controller asked the pilot to turn twenty degrees right to confirm radar identification before issuing vectors.