Definition
An electronic or mechanical device that accepts input data, processes it according to a set of instructions, and produces output. In aviation, computers range from simple mechanical flight computers (such as the E6B) used for manual navigation and performance calculations, to complex digital systems that manage navigation, engine performance, autoflight, and flight management functions.
Plain English
A device that takes information in, works on it according to set rules, and gives you an answer or action back. In flying, this can be a small handheld tool for doing math, or a built-in system that helps run the aircraft.
Context Anchor
Pilots encounter computers in flight planning tools, cockpit displays, engine and aircraft systems, and handheld or panel-mounted devices used for navigation and performance calculations.
Derivation
From the Latin computare, meaning 'to count' or 'to reckon together' (com- 'with' + putare 'to settle, calculate'). Originally the word referred to a person who performed calculations by hand. The aviation usage carries that same idea forward: the device performs the calculations a pilot would otherwise do manually.
Why Pilots Care
Pilots rely on computers for everything from fuel and time-distance calculations to navigation guidance and engine management. Knowing whether a 'computer' in a manual refers to a handheld E6B or an onboard system avoids confusion when reading procedures and checklists.
Intuition Check
Do not think of a computer only as a laptop or desktop machine. In aviation, a computer can also be a built-in aircraft unit, a panel instrument, a handheld calculator-like tool, or a mechanical device that solves flight problems.
Example Sentence 1
Before the cross-country flight, the student used a flight computer to work out groundspeed, fuel burn, and time en route.
Example Sentence 2
During preflight the student checked the computer for estimated time en route and fuel required.