Definition 1 of 2
Definition
An action taken by one ATC controller to inform another controller, via automation or verbal coordination, that an aircraft under the first controller's control will or may enter the other controller's airspace. The aircraft remains under the control of the originating controller; the receiving controller is simply being made aware so they can account for it in their airspace.
Plain English
When a controller is about to let an aircraft fly through another controller's airspace, they tell that other controller about it ahead of time. The aircraft stays with the original controller — the second controller just needs to know it's coming.
Context Anchor
Pilots may see this term in FAA glossary material and may hear controllers use related coordination language, but the action itself happens between controllers, not in the cockpit.
Derivation
Point out' is borrowed from ordinary English — to draw someone's attention to something. In ATC usage it kept that meaning literally: one controller is pointing out an aircraft to another so they're aware of it.
Why Pilots Care
Maintains safe separation and prevents traffic conflicts when controllers must share awareness of an aircraft.
Intuition Check
Do not read “point out” as a casual mention. In this FAA meaning, it is a specific controller coordination action that identifies an aircraft’s radar target to another controller while radio contact stays with the original controller.
Example Sentence 1
Approach issued a radar point out to the adjacent sector before letting the VFR traffic transit the corner of their airspace.
Example Sentence 2
During the handoff, the departure controller accepted the radar point out from the tower on the low-altitude traffic.