Definition
A formal request submitted to the FAA's telecommunications system to add, change, or remove a communications service, circuit, or facility supporting air traffic operations. TRs are used internally by the FAA to manage the infrastructure that carries voice, data, and navigation signals between facilities.
Plain English
A paperwork request the FAA uses to set up, modify, or shut down a piece of its communications equipment or service.
Context Anchor
Seen in FAA acronym, abbreviation, and NOTAM contraction lists, especially when decoding aviation communications or administrative notices.
Derivation
Telecommunications combines tele, from Greek meaning “far off,” with communication, from Latin meaning “to share or make common.” The word points to sharing information over a distance, which is exactly what aviation communication systems do.
Why Pilots Care
Pilots don't submit or act on TRs themselves, but knowing the term prevents confusion when reading FAA publications or NOTAMs that reference behind-the-scenes communications work.
Intuition Check
Do not read TR as an instruction to turn right, track, or take action in the airplane. In this context, TR only means telecommunications request.
Example Sentence 1
The facility filed a TR to add a new ground-to-air radio frequency at the regional airport.
Example Sentence 2
ATC responded to the TR with clearance details for the new routing.