Definition
A named waypoint along a Standard Terminal Arrival Route (STAR), identified by the five-letter code RADDY, used as a fix where pilots and controllers reference position, altitude, or speed restrictions during the arrival.
Plain English
A specific point in the sky with the name RADDY, used as a checkpoint along an arrival route into an airport.
Context Anchor
Seen on instrument arrival charts, including STARs, where the route is built from named points the aircraft follows in sequence.
Derivation
Intersection comes from the Latin 'intersecare,' meaning 'to cut between.' In aviation it originally meant a point where two navigation radials or courses crossed. Today, named fixes like RADDY are simply five-letter codes assigned by the FAA to mark a specific geographic point, even when no radials physically cross there.
Why Pilots Care
Correct identification of this fix ensures the aircraft follows the assigned arrival path, maintains proper altitude, and stays clear of other traffic.
Grounding Statement
On the chart, RADDY is one named point in the route sequence that helps define exactly where the airplane should go next.
Intuition Check
Do not think of “intersection” as a road crossing. In this context, it means a named navigation point in the sky or on a published instrument route.
Example Sentence 1
ATC instructed the crew to cross RADDY at 10,000 feet and 250 knots as part of the arrival.
Example Sentence 2
After passing RADDY Intersection the STAR procedure begins a descent to 8,000 feet.