Definition
Information issued to alert pilots to known or observed conditions, hazards, or operational considerations. An advisory is informational in nature; it is not a clearance, not an instruction, and does not require compliance, though pilots are expected to consider it when making operational decisions.
Plain English
A heads-up. Someone is telling you about a condition or hazard so you can take it into account, but they are not telling you what to do about it.
Context Anchor
Seen in radio communications, weather information, traffic reports, airport notices, and FAA publications when a pilot is being alerted to something that may affect safety.
Derivation
From the Latin advisare, meaning 'to consider' or 'to give counsel.' An advisory offers counsel — information for the pilot to weigh — rather than a command.
Why Pilots Care
Advisories support safe decision-making by highlighting conditions that could affect the flight, even when no specific action is required.
Intuition Check
Advisory does not mean casual, optional, or unimportant. In aviation, an advisory can be very important safety information, even when it is not a direct order.
Example Sentence 1
Tower issued a wind shear advisory for the approach end of Runway 27.
Example Sentence 2
During the flight, ATC provided a traffic advisory for an aircraft crossing our path.