Definition
A representation of some characteristic or condition of an aircraft shown to the pilot using symbols or pictures rather than numbers or words. On modern flight displays, things like aircraft heading, attitude, flight path, or system status are presented as graphic shapes, icons, or stylized images that the pilot can read at a glance.
Plain English
Information about the aircraft shown as a picture or symbol instead of as text or numbers, so the pilot can understand it quickly by looking at it.
Context Anchor
Seen on cockpit displays, charts, manuals, training material, and electronic systems that show aircraft information visually.
Derivation
Attribute' comes from Latin attribuere, meaning 'to assign to' — here it means a property or feature being assigned to the aircraft. 'Symbolic' means using a symbol to stand for something, and 'pictorial' means shown as a picture. Together the phrase simply describes information shown as a graphic rather than written out.
Why Pilots Care
Symbolic and pictorial displays let pilots absorb information faster than reading numbers. A tilted horizon line tells you bank angle instantly; a digit string takes longer to interpret. In high-workload moments, that speed matters.
Intuition Check
Do not assume this means a decorative picture of an airplane. Here, the picture or symbol is carrying specific aircraft information that must be understood correctly.
Example Sentence 1
The artificial horizon is an aircraft attribute in symbolic or pictorial format, showing pitch and bank as a moving line rather than as numbers.
Example Sentence 2
Maintenance records sometimes include an aircraft attribute in symbolic or pictorial format for quick visual reference during preflight.