Definition
Aircraft data blocks on an ARTS III or DBRITE radar display that have been temporarily held in a non-tracking state by the controller, usually because the aircraft is in a coast situation, has lost transponder return, or is being held aside while the controller resolves identification or handoff issues. The target symbol and tag remain visible but are not actively updated by the automation system until the controller re-establishes tracking.
Plain English
Aircraft on the radar screen that the computer has paused tracking on. The blip and label are still shown, but the system is waiting for the controller to sort something out before it resumes following the aircraft automatically.
Context Anchor
Seen in explanations of ARTS III and DBRITE radar display symbols used by air traffic controllers in terminal areas.
Derivation
Suspend' comes from Latin suspendere, meaning 'to hang' or 'hold up.' Here it means the target's automatic tracking has been hung up — paused — pending controller action.
Why Pilots Care
Pilots don't interact with suspend status directly, but understanding it helps make sense of why a controller might briefly ask for an ident, altitude readback, or position report — the automation has lost or paused tracking, and the controller is rebuilding the picture.
Grounding Statement
A target in suspend status is still a displayed aircraft target, but the radar system is not treating it as a normal active track at that moment.
Intuition Check
“Suspend” does not mean the aircraft is hanging in the air or that ATC service has automatically ended. Here it means the radar display system has temporarily placed the target in a special hold-like status.
Example Sentence 1
The controller noticed two targets in suspend status on the DBRITE display and worked to re-acquire their tracks before issuing further instructions.
Example Sentence 2
Targets in suspend status appear dimmer on the DBRITE until the system regains a reliable return.