Definition

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Plan for Emergency Security Control of Air Traffic (ESCAT) is a preparedness plan that prescribes joint action to be taken by appropriate elements of the Department of Defense, the Department of Transportation, and the Department of Homeland Security in the interest of national security to control air traffic under emergency conditions. 

Description

The ESCAT terminology replaces the older Security Control of Air Traffic and Air Navigation Aids (SCATANA). SCATANA was implemented during the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, when the FAA ordered the grounding of all U.S. air traffic.

The current ESCAT is described in Advisory Circular 99-1E. The ESCAT plan: