ground-controlled approach

or ground-con·trol approach

[ ground-kuh n-trohld ]

/ ˈgraʊnd kənˌtroʊld /

noun Aeronautics.

a system in which an observer interprets radar observations of the position of an aircraft and transmits continuous instructions to its pilot for landing. Abbreviation: GCA

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Nearby words

ground wave, ground ways, ground wire, ground zero, ground-breaking, ground-controlled approach, ground-effect machine, ground-fault interrupter, ground-fish, ground-plane aerial, ground-to-air

Origin of ground-controlled approach

First recorded in 1940–45

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019