Definition
A radio transmission made by one station to another when two-way communication cannot be established, but where it is believed the receiving station is able to receive the transmission.
Plain English
A radio call you send out when you can't hear the other station replying, but you have reason to believe they can still hear you. You transmit your message anyway, on the chance it gets through.
Context Anchor
Used during radio communication problems, especially when a pilot or controller cannot get a reply but still needs to pass important information.
Derivation
"Blind" here means transmitting without confirmation — you can't see or hear evidence the other station got it. Same sense as "flying blind": acting without feedback.
Why Pilots Care
Allows critical safety information such as position or intentions to reach others when two-way radio contact is impossible.
Intuition Check
Blind does not mean the pilot is physically unable to see. Here it means the radio call is being made without knowing for sure that the other station is receiving or able to answer.
Example Sentence 1
Unable to raise approach control, the pilot made a blind transmission announcing position and altitude on the assigned frequency.
Example Sentence 2
The controller issued a blind transmission on the common traffic frequency to warn pilots of an inbound aircraft with no transponder.