Definition
An onboard display that shows the pilot the position and movement of nearby aircraft, derived primarily from ADS-B and other surveillance data. It presents surrounding traffic graphically so the flight crew can see relative position, altitude, and direction of other aircraft in flight or on the airport surface.
Plain English
A screen in the cockpit that shows where other aircraft are around you, so you can see them without having to spot them out the window or be told by ATC.
Context Anchor
Pilots may encounter CDTI in discussions of traffic awareness equipment, cockpit displays, and systems that show nearby aircraft during flight.
Derivation
The name describes itself plainly: a display, located in the cockpit, showing traffic information. The term came into use as ADS-B technology made it practical for aircraft to receive and display traffic data directly, rather than relying solely on ATC radio calls.
Why Pilots Care
It gives pilots better awareness of surrounding traffic so they can spot and avoid potential conflicts earlier.
Intuition Check
Do not read “traffic” here as cars or road congestion. In this aviation context, traffic means other aircraft operating nearby, and the display is an awareness tool, not a traffic-control command.
Example Sentence 1
The pilot glanced at the CDTI and saw the other aircraft holding short of the runway before taxiing into position.
Example Sentence 2
The pilot used the CDTI to confirm traffic was clear before descending.