Radar Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) Practice Exam 2025 – Your All-in-One Guide to Master SOP Standards!

A point out is a procedure used in air traffic control when transferring radar identification of an aircraft from one controller to another. For a point out to be successfully conducted, the aircraft must first be radar identified. This involves confirming that the radar is able to accurately track the aircraft and that the controller has positive identification of its position and intentions.

Without this radar identification, controllers cannot ensure the safety and accuracy of the handoff of the aircraft to another sector or controller, which is critical for maintaining safe separation between aircraft. Therefore, a point out can only be accomplished on aircraft that have been properly radar identified, ensuring that both controllers have the required situational awareness.

Other options, while important in their own contexts, do not directly relate to the process of executing a point out. For example, flight plan approval and clearance for departure are related to the aircraft's permissions and operational status rather than its radar tracking. Informed of traffic pertains to the communication of surroundings, but does not specifically address the radar identification requirement for point outs.