Definition
A radar-based air traffic control service provided in the airspace surrounding certain airports, in which controllers use automated radar systems to provide aircraft separation, sequencing, and traffic advisories to participating aircraft operating in the terminal area.
Plain English
A service where controllers use radar and computer systems to track aircraft near an airport, keep them apart, line them up for landing, and tell pilots about nearby traffic.
Context Anchor
Seen in FAA acronym lists and in discussions of radar services provided by approach or departure control near airports.
Derivation
‘Terminal’ refers to the airspace around an airport — the start or end of a flight — as opposed to en route airspace between airports. ‘Automated radar’ signals that the radar tracking and data display are handled by computer systems rather than purely by hand.
Why Pilots Care
Gives pilots extra situational awareness and sequencing assistance in busy terminal airspace without requiring full ATC radar approach control.
Intuition Check
Do not read “terminal” here as the airport building or as “final.” In this term, “terminal” means the airport-area airspace where approach and departure control services are provided.
Example Sentence 1
Approaching the airport, the pilot contacted approach control and received traffic advisories under terminal automated radar service.
Example Sentence 2
TARS provided traffic calls that helped the arriving aircraft maintain safe spacing from departures.