Definition
Information used in the planning and conduct of flight operations, including data on airports, airways, navigation aids, terrain, obstacles, airspace, and procedures. Aeronautical data is published in charts, approach plates, the Chart Supplement, and digital navigation databases.
Plain English
All the published information a pilot needs to plan and fly a flight safely — airports, airways, navaids, airspace, terrain, obstacles, and procedures.
Context Anchor
Seen in flight planning, aviation charts, airport information, navigation databases, and official flight publications.
Derivation
Aeronautical comes from the Greek aer (air) and nautikos (relating to ships or sailing) — literally 'air sailing.' So aeronautical data is simply the information needed for navigating through the air.
Why Pilots Care
Outdated or incorrect aeronautical data can lead to navigation errors, airspace violations, or unsafe approaches.
Intuition Check
Do not think of aeronautical data as only computer data. It can be printed, digital, spoken, or charted information, as long as it gives facts needed for aviation use.
Example Sentence 1
Before each flight, the pilot checks that the aeronautical data in the GPS is current.
Example Sentence 2
A change in runway length appeared in the aeronautical data update, requiring a revised takeoff performance calculation.