Definition
Information provided by air traffic control or a flight service station to assist pilots in the safe conduct of flight and aircraft movement. Advisory service is informational only — it does not constitute a clearance, an instruction, or separation service. The pilot remains responsible for the decision to act on the information.
Plain English
Helpful information passed to a pilot — about traffic, weather, runway conditions, or similar — that the pilot can use to make better decisions. It is not an order and it does not protect the aircraft from other traffic. The pilot still decides what to do.
Context Anchor
You will see this term in FAA material and hear the idea in radio services that give pilots traffic, weather, airport, or safety information.
Derivation
From Latin advisare, 'to consider' or 'to give counsel.' An advisory is counsel offered — useful guidance — not a command. That distinction is the heart of the term in aviation use.
Why Pilots Care
Helps pilots maintain awareness of surrounding conditions and make informed choices without direct control from air traffic.
Intuition Check
Advisory does not mean a clearance, a command, or casual chatter. It means useful safety information that helps the pilot decide what to do.
Example Sentence 1
The controller passed an advisory of light rain showers along our route, and we used it to plan a small deviation.
Example Sentence 2
Advisory service informed the pilot about changing weather conditions ahead.