Definition
Track of Interest (TOI) Resolution is the process by which an air traffic controller resolves a conflict alert involving an aircraft track that has been flagged as a Track of Interest. A track becomes a TOI when the automation system identifies it as potentially conflicting with another aircraft, restricted airspace, or terrain. Resolution is achieved when the controller issues control instructions, the track's behavior changes, or further evaluation determines no conflict exists, at which point the alert is cleared from the system.
Plain English
When the radar system flags an aircraft as a possible problem (too close to another aircraft, restricted airspace, or terrain), the controller works the situation until it's no longer a threat. That process of working it until the alert clears is called TOI Resolution.
Context Anchor
Seen in air traffic control and security-related coordination when an aircraft’s identity or actions need to be checked and then cleared.
Derivation
Track refers to the radar return of an aircraft moving across a controller's display. Of Interest signals that the automation has singled it out for attention. Resolution comes from the Latin resolvere, meaning to loosen or settle — here, to settle the conflict so the alert can be cleared.
Why Pilots Care
Affects routing, communications priority, and possible restrictions on the flight.
Intuition Check
Do not read interest as casual curiosity; here it means the aircraft needs special operational attention. Do not read resolution as screen sharpness; here it means the situation has been settled or closed.
Example Sentence 1
The controller issued an immediate descent to resolve a TOI between the inbound jet and crossing traffic.
Example Sentence 2
Once the TOI status ended, the aircraft returned to normal routing.