Definition
Two-way radio communication between an aircraft in flight and a station on the ground, such as an air traffic control facility, a flight service station, or a company dispatcher.
Plain English
Talking by radio between a pilot in the air and someone on the ground.
Context Anchor
Seen when an instrument flight rules flight plan needs to be canceled or coordinated with a ground facility while the aircraft is still airborne.
Why Pilots Care
Allows a pilot to cancel IFR services without landing, saving time and fuel when weather or conditions permit.
Intuition Check
Do not read this as any conversation about airplanes. In this context, it means an actual communication link between an airborne aircraft and a ground-based aviation facility.
Example Sentence 1
After landing at the uncontrolled airport, the pilot used air-to-ground communications with the nearest flight service station to cancel the IFR flight plan.
Example Sentence 2
Good air-to-ground communications let the pilot receive a new routing clearance while still airborne.