Plain English Meaning
A country's official handbook of flying information. It tells pilots everything they need to know to fly safely and legally inside that country -- the rules, the airports, the airspace, the navigation aids, and the procedures.
Full Definition
An official document published by a country's civil aviation authority that contains lasting aeronautical information essential to air navigation, including details on airspace, airports, air traffic services, navigation aids, procedures, and regulations within that country.
Context Anchor
Seen in flight planning, especially when checking official information for operations in a particular country or for international flights.
Derivation
From the Greek word for air (aer) and Greek nautikos meaning 'pertaining to ships or sailing.' 'Aeronautical' literally means 'navigating through the air.' So an Aeronautical Information Publication is, plainly, a publication of information for navigating through the air.