Definition
The defined airspace within which an air traffic control facility is permitted to issue radar headings (vectors) to aircraft. Each TRACON, ARTCC, or tower with radar has a specific lateral and vertical area in which its controllers may legally direct aircraft using radar vectors, typically extending up to but not including a specified altitude.
Plain English
The chunk of sky where a particular radar controller is allowed to tell aircraft which direction to fly. Outside that chunk, a different facility takes over.
Context Anchor
You will see this term in instrument flying when Approach Control or another radar controller is giving headings to aircraft arriving, departing, or being sequenced near an airport.
Derivation
From 'vector' (a direction expressed as a heading) plus 'authority' (the right to act). Together: the right to assign headings within a defined area.
Why Pilots Care
Knowing when controllers hold vectoring authority helps pilots understand when they must follow heading instructions and why those instructions are issued.
Intuition Check
Do not read “authority” as total control of the airplane. It means the controller may issue direction instructions within their assigned role; the pilot must still speak up if unable or unsafe.
Example Sentence 1
The approach controller could not turn the aircraft further south because the requested heading would take it outside her vectoring authority.
Example Sentence 2
During periods of heavy traffic the TRACON exercises vectoring authority to maintain safe spacing between departures.