Definition
A combined shorthand used on radar approach data displays and approach charts to indicate the lowest reported cloud ceiling (height of the cloud base above the airport) together with the prevailing visibility (horizontal distance a pilot can see). The two values are paired because both must meet or exceed the published minimums for the approach to be flown to a landing.
Plain English
A short label that pairs two weather numbers: how low the clouds are and how far you can see. Both numbers have to be good enough before you're allowed to land from an instrument approach.
Context Anchor
Seen in radar approach figures, approach minimums, and weather information used before or during an instrument approach.
Derivation
A simple contraction of 'ceiling' and 'visibility.' 'Ceiling' comes from the same root as the word for the top of a room — the cloud layer acts like a roof above the airport. 'Visibility' comes from the Latin 'visibilis,' meaning 'able to be seen.' Pairing them in one label reflects how pilots actually use them: never one without the other.
Why Pilots Care
It directly determines whether a radar approach may continue to landing or must end in a missed approach.
Grounding Statement
For example, a CEIL-VIS entry is helping you picture whether the runway area is hidden by low clouds, poor visibility, or both.
Intuition Check
CEIL-VIS is not one single weather measurement. It is a shortened label combining two separate items: ceiling and visibility.
Example Sentence 1
The controller passed the latest CEIL-VIS as 400 and 1, which was right at minimums for the ILS.
Example Sentence 2
When CEIL-VIS dropped below the required values, the pilot began the missed approach procedure.