Definition
In air traffic control, strategic planning is the process of resolving traffic conflicts and managing flow well in advance, typically using flight plan data and predicted aircraft positions rather than immediate, real-time control actions. It looks ahead across longer time horizons and broader airspace, shaping the overall traffic picture before aircraft become a tactical concern.
Plain English
It's the long-range thinking that controllers and traffic managers do before aircraft are close to each other -- arranging routes, timing, and altitudes ahead of time so problems don't develop in the first place.
Context Anchor
You may see this term in FAA traffic-flow discussions, especially when weather or heavy traffic is expected to affect routes, airports, or departure times.
Derivation
From Greek 'strategos,' meaning 'general' or 'army leader.' A general plans the whole campaign, not the moment-to-moment skirmishes. The word carries that same sense here: looking at the larger picture, well in advance.
Why Pilots Care
Good strategic planning lowers workload once airborne and prevents many in-flight surprises that can lead to rushed decisions.
Intuition Check
Do not read this as personal flight planning or airline business planning. In this FAA context, it means advance planning by air traffic managers for traffic flow across airports and airspace.
Example Sentence 1
Through strategic planning, the traffic management unit issued a reroute hours before the flight departed to avoid forecast congestion over the arrival fix.
Example Sentence 2
During strategic planning the crew reviewed possible weather deviations and updated the flight plan accordingly.